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-■■'    *""M^:-JS'--* 


f-- .  Vi*^'.' 


i 


A    SHORT 


VIEW 


OF   THE   WHOLE 

SCRIPTURE    HISTORY 


A  CONTINUATION  OF  THE  JEWISH  AFFAIRS  FROM 

THE  OLD  TESTAMENT  TILL  THE 

TIME  OF  CHRIST; 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  CHIEF  PROPHECIES 
THAT  RELATE  TO  HIM  : 

'Represented  in  a'^Va^  &f  ^lestion  and  ,^nswer* 

Illustrated  with 


THE    PATRIARCHS,    JEWS   AIVD    CHRISTIANS,    AND   OS 

THE    LAWS,    GOVERNMENT,    SECTS,   CUSTOMS 

AND     'WRITINGS    OF    THE    JEWS. 


B¥  I.  \yATTS,  D.  D. 


^UNIVEESITY 

B9jg;x)N: 

:i  liter. 
1819. 


:2,S"i-'^''^ 


THE 


PREFACE, 


SHEWING 


HE    DESIGN    OF    SUCH    A    SHORT    VIEW    OF    SCRIPTURE 
HISTORY,  AND   THE    ADVANTAGES    OF    IT. 


The  Holy  Scripture  is  divided  into  two  books,  which  are 
commonly  called  the  Old  Testament  and  the  New.  And  as 
each  of  these  books  contains  several  articles  or  propositions 
which  God  has  revealed  to  men  for  the  direction  of  their  faith 
and  practice  in  the  successive  ages  of  the  world  ;  so  there  are 
several  histories  contained  in  them,  or  narratives  of  the  lives 
and  deaths  of  men,  of  the  affairs  of  nations,  and  especially  of 
the  transactions  of  God  with  mankind. 

Some  knowledge  of  these  historical  matters  is  necessary  and 
useful,  in  order  to  obtain  a  more  clear  and  full  acqumntance 
with  the  principles  of  our  holy  religion,  as  well  as  to  assist  and 
engage  us  in  the  practice  of  it  by  way  of  motive.  It  is  the 
history  all  along  introduces  the  peculiar  doctrine  and  duties  ; 
and  all  the  latter  revelations  of  the  mind  and  will  of  God,  relat- 
ing to  religion,  have  some  connexion  with  and  dependence 
upon  the  events  which  went  before. 

The  very  Gospel  of  Christ  consists  partly  in  the  history  of 
his  life  and  death  ;  nor  can  the  otljer  part  of  it,  namely,  the 
doctrines  and  duties,  be  so  well  understood  without  some 
knowledge  of  the  law  of  iMoses,  the  ceremonies  of  the  Jews,  the 
religion  of  tlie  patriarchs,  and  the  transactions  of  God  witli 
Adam,  the  first  father  of  all  mankind. 

The  great  and  blessed  God  at  one  single  view  surveys  all  his 
own  works  and  designs,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  them ; 
awA  every  part  of  his  grand  scheme  stands  in  a  delightful  har- 
mony with  the  rest,  ile  has  ordained  all  his  more  early  deal- 
ings with  men  in  such  a  manner,  us  to  let  in  divine  light  by 
several  gradations  upon  a  dark  world,  and  to  lay  a  happy  foun- 
dation for  its  latest  and  bejU  revelation  made  by  his  own  SoB»> 


i>  PREFACE 

and  his  apostles:  and  in  many  cases  the  former  laM's,  ordi- 
nances, and  transactions,  are  evidently  designed  to  prefis-ure 
and  shadow  out,  as  well  as  to  introduce  those  which  follow. 
Adam,  our  first  father,  by  whom  sin  and  death  were  brow^ht  into 
the  world,  was  a  type  or  figure  of  Jesus  the  second  Adam,  who 
brought  m  righteousness  and  life.  Rom.  v.  14.  1  Cor.  xv.  21 
22,  45,  49.  The  law  of  Moses  was  a  shadow  of  the  sood  tfiinel 
tvhich  were  to  come  ;  but  the  body  and  substance  of  these 
Wessmgs  was  given  us  by  Christ  our  Saviour.  Col.  ii.  17.  Heh. 
X.  I.  And  it  is  certain  we  may  obtain  a  more  extensive  and 
complete  knowledge  of  Christianity,  by  our  acquaintance  with 
the  sacred  affairs  of  Adam  and  Noah,  of  Abraham  and  Moses, 
and  the  sons  of  Israel. 

Besides,  it  is  the  history  of  the  Bible,  which  hath  conveyed 
down  to  us  the  knowledge  of  those  miracles  and  divine  won- 
ders which  have  been  wrought  by  the  prophets,  the  immediate 
messengers  of  heaven,  to  prove  that  they  were  sent  of  God  : 
It  IS  m  this  history  we  read  those  prophecies  of  things  to  come, 
together  with  the  accomplishment  of  them,  which  stand  in  a 
Deautiful  connexion  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  the 
days  of  the  Messiah,  All  of  them  join  to  confirm  our  faith  in 
the  several  revelations  of  religion  which  God  has  made  to  the 
sons  of  men  ;  and  all  concur  to  establish  the  last  and  noblest 
scheme  of  religion,  that  is,  Christianity.  Thus  the  very  history 
of  Scripture  has  a  powerful  and  rational  influence  to  establish 
our  behef  of  the  Gospel,  and  to  make  us  Christians  upon  solid 
and  reasonable  grounds. 

I  add  yet  further,  that  in  the  historical  part  of  Scripture  we 
read  the  holy  laws  of  God,  exemplified  in  the  life  and  practice 
of  good  men  in  several  ages  of  the  world  r  and  when  we  see  the 
rules  of  religion  copied  out  in  the  M'ords  and  actions  of  our  fel- 
low creatures,  it  renders  the  performance  of  them  more  practi- 
cable and  more  delightful  to  us.  While  the  word  of  command 
stands  in  the  law  to  require  our  obedience,  the  actual  obedience 
of  our  fathers  to  those  commands  recorded  in  the  history  invites 
our  imitation,  and  makes  the  work  more  easy. 

To  conclude  :  we  find  not  only  the  precepts  but  the  sanctions 
of  the  law  of  God  exemplified  in  the  narrative  of  Scripture. 
How  often  do  we  read  the  promises  of  God  fulfilled  in  the  re- 
wards of  the  righteous,  and  his  threatenings  executed  against 
wilful  transgressors  !  These  things  set  the  government  of  God 
before  our  eyes  in  a  stronger  light ;  they  shew  us  that  his  words 
of  promise  and  threatening  are  not  empty  sounds  ;  and  make  it 
appear  with  sensible  conviction,  that  he  will  certainly  reward, 
and  that  he  will  as  certainly  punish.  The  many  wonderful  in- 
stances of  a  divine  Providence  which  concerns  itself  in  the  af- 
fairs of  men,  and  which  are  recorded  in  the  word  of  God,  have 


'  ••         PREFACE.  ▼ 

tU  natural  tendency  to  awaken  our  fear  of  so  great  and  glorious 
a  Being,  and  to  encourage  our  hope  and  trust  in  liiA.  In  a 
word,  the  perfections  of  God,  whereby  he  made  and  governs 
the  world,  are  set  before  our  eyes  by  the  Scripture  history  in 
auch  divine  colours,  as  give  us  a  more  awful  and  amiable  idea 
of  God  himself,  than  any  words  of  description  could  have  done, 
without  such  an  historical  account  of  his  works  of  nature,  grace, 
lud  providence. 

Since  then  it  appears,  that  some  knowledge  of  the  history  of 
Scripture  is  necessary  and  useful  to  every  one  among  us  who 
would  know  and  love  God,  and  be  a  partaker  of  his  favour,  the 
next  thing  to  be  inquired  is,  how  this  knowledge  may  be  best 
attained  ?  How  shall  persons,  whose  capacity  is  weak,  or  who 
have  little  time  to  employ  on  these  subjects,  be  led  in  the 
shortest  and  easiest  way  to  a  competelft  acquaint^ce  with  the 
sacred  history  ?  And  how  shall  those  who  are  young  in  years, 
be  trained  up  in  the  plainest  and  most  alluring  manner  to  some 
knowledge  of  these  important  affairs,  till  their  growing  age  and 
further  advantages,  shall  give  them  a  more  extensive  and  capa- 
cious-view of  all  the  transactions  between  God  and  men  record- 
ed in  Scripture  ? 

The  Bible  itself  is  a  very  large  book,  and  though  it  ought  to 

be  read  (at  least  many  parts  of  it)  by  persons  o(  all  characteis 

nd  conditions,  yet  the  reducing  of  the  several  things  contained 

I  it  to  a  short  and  narrow  view,  by  way  of  abridgment,  is  so 

acceding  useful,,  that  I  had  almost  called  it  necessary^  at  least 

r  yoiith,  and  for  persona  in  the  lower  ranks  of  life,  who  have 
iewer  conveniences  and  advantages  of  knowledge.  I  have  made 
this  sufficiently  e\-ident  with  regard  to  the  doctrines  and  duties 
of  religion,  in  my  Discourse  concerning  the  Composition  and 
Use  of  Catechisms^  to  which  I  refer  my  reader:  and  the  same 
arginnent  will  hold  good  Avith  regard  to  the  historical  part  of 
Scripture.  There  1  have  shewn  particularly  How  needful  it  is 
to  collect  the  great  articles  and  rules  of  our  religion,  which  lie 
scattered  up  and  down  in  the  Bible,  into  a  shorter  scheme  for. 
the  use  of  younger  understandings  ;  and  I  have  given  my  rea- 
Mjns  also,  why  the  catechetical  method  of  question  and  an- 
swer is  preferable  to  all  other  methods  of  instruction  ;  and  I 
need  not  repeat  tlie  same  things  here,  with  regard  to  sacred 
history. 

It  is  proper  the  reader  should  know,  that  at  the  end  of  the 
History  of  the  Old  Testament  I  have  inserted  on€  chapter^ 
wherein  the  Jewish  affi»irs  are  continued  from  the  time  of  Nehe- 
miah  (where  the  sacred  writers  end)  down  to  the  time  ofChrist 
and  the  Gospel.  This  is  borrowed  from  the  best  ancient  mit- 
ijigs  we  have  of  these  events,  namely,  the  books  of  Maccabees 
•1  the  Apocrypha,  and  tlie  history  of.  Josephos,  though  I  aQi 


vi  PREFACE. 

greatly  indebted  also  to  Dr.  Prideaux's  Historical  Connection 
of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  wherein  these  narratives  are 
so  happily  reduced  to  a  chronological  order,  and  embellished 
and  improved  with  many  valuable  hints  from  heathen  historians. 

And  to  render  the  work  yet  more  useful  in  tliese  days  of  in- 
fidelity, I  have  added  another  chapter^  which  I  call  a  Pro2)het- 
ical  Connection  between  the  Old  and  JVew  Testament^  wherein 
the  most  eminent  prophecies  relating  to  our  blessed  Lord  are 
set  down  in  one  view,  together  with  their  accomplishment ; 
that  younger  minds  may  see  how  much  this  great  Messiah,  or 
anointed  Saviour,  was  foretold  and  expected  through  all  ages, 
and  may  have  their  faith  of  Christ  built  early  upon  a  solid 
foundation. 

I  have  nothing  more  to  add,  but  to  acquaint  the  reader  with 
the  method  I  have  taken  in  composing  this  work,  and  with  the 
tise  that  he  should  make  of  it 

In  framing  this  book,  I  have  observed  the  following  rules, 
namely, 

I.  I  have  proceeded,  for  the  most  part  according  to  the 
order  of  things  as  they  lie  in  the  books  of  Scripture  ;  but  still 
endeavouring  to  maintain  some  connexion  throughout  the  whole 
history.  Yet  I  cannot  say  I  have  always  reduced  things  to  rhat 
order  in  which  they  were  transacted  :  for  in  several  places  1 
found  that  a  strict  observation  of  chronology  would  have  inter- 
mingled too  many  incidents  of  different  kinds,  would  have 
broken  the  scheme  of  things  I  had  proposed,  or  interrupted  the 
narrative  of  some  particular  event,  and  rendered  the  history 
much  more  unconnected  and  disagreeable  to  those  for  whom  I 
write. 

II.  Though  I  have  not  been  solicitous  to  insert  every  inci- 
dent, and  the  name  of  every  person  contained  in  the  Old  Tes- 
tament, yet  I  have  omitted  scarce  any  name  or  remarkable, 
transaction  which  has  been  referred  to  or  cited  in  the  New,  or 
has  any  connexion  with  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  which  is  the 
religion  of  Christians.  It  was  not  possible  to  insert  all  the  par- 
ticular narratives  contained  in  the  Scripture,  without  makings 
another  book  almost  as  big  as  the  Bible  itself:  whereas  my 
prime  design  was  to  give  an  abstract  or  short  view  of  the  sacred 
history,  for  the  use  of  persons  of  such  age,  capacities  or  condi- 
tions of  life,  as  are  not  able  to  attend  to  much  reading,  nor  gain 
a  fuller  and  more  accurate  knowledge  of  the  transactions  o> 
God  with  men. 

II1»  I  have  added  the  chapter  and  verse  of  one  or  more 
tgxts  of  Scripture  to  every  answer  that  required  it,  that  the 
reader  might  be  invited  to  search  his  Bible,  and  there  gain  a 
larger  and  more  particular  acquaintance  with  those  historical 
matters  which.  I  have  briefly  mentioned  in  a  line  or  two..    If- 


PREFACE.    .  vii 

young  persons  by  this  means  are  allured  to  grow  familiar  with 
ihe  word  of  God,  I  am  persuaded  the  advantage  fhey  may  reap 
thereby  will  richly  compensate  all  their  labours  in  reading  thia 
historical  abridgment  of  Scripture,  and  all  my  pains  in  writ- 
ing it. 

IV.  It  is  all  divided  into  chapters,  and  some  chapters  into 
sections,  with  a  new  title  to  each.  This  will,  in  some  measure, 
give  a  comprehensive  view  of  the  method  and  order  of  the 
tVhole.  It  is  evident  that  the  catechetical  form  of  question 
and  answer  takes  off  the  tiresomeness  of  reading  from  younger 
minds,  and  perpetually  allures  their  inquiry  and  coriosily  on- 
ward by  short  answer?,  without  that  weariness  which  arises 
from  many  long  continued  pages  of  mere  narrative  :  and  in  the 
5ame  maimer  a  proper  distinction  of  the  history  into  chapters 
and  sections  under  differenl  titles,  renders  the  work  of  reading 
much  more  delightful  by  the  frequent  returning  rests  and  pauses. 

V.  Since  I  intended  it  originally  for  persons  of  younger 
Acars,  and  the  common  rank  of  mankind,  I  have  studied  gene- 
rally to  use  such  words  and  forms  of  speech  as  are  most  plain 
and  easy  to  be  understood.  It  would  not  have  answered  my 
design  so  well,  if  I  must  have  sent  ray  reader  too  often  to  his 
dictionary  to  inquire  the  meaning  of  hard  words  and  Latinized 
expressions. 

VI.  Yet  I  have  not  so  confined  myself  to  the  service  of  mjr 
tmleamed  readers,  as  to  neglect  all  useful  criticisms  and  occa- 
sional remarks  to  clear  up  difficulties :  but  have  freely  inter- 
spersed them  throughout  the  whole  book,  so  far  as  may  inform 
the  inquisitive,  and  give  some  hints  to  the  more  intelligent 
reader,  for  the  further  illustration  of  some  passages  of  Scripture 
both  in  the  Old  Testament  and  the  Uew. 

If  there  should  be  found  any  mistakes  in  drawing  up  this 
history,  which  might  have  been  rectified  by  further  consulting- 
the  writings  of  the  learned,  I  would  only  mention  one  apology 
for  myself ;  and  that  is,  a  great  part  of  it  was  drawn  up  in  the 
country,  at  a  distance  from  my  usual  habitation,  where  I  had 
no  learned  writings  to  consult,  and  was  confined  to  my  Bible 
alone.  A  friendly  notice  of  any  such  mistakes  might  occasioa, 
a  correction  of  them. 

Let  me  here  speak  a  word  or  two  more  of  the  particular  uses 
which  may  be  made  of  this  summary  of  ssrred  history. 

It  may  not  be  an  improper  book  to  lie  couctantly  in  the 
nursery  or  the  parlour,  to  assist  the  instruction  of  children,  or 
the  conversation  of  grown  persons.  And  if  this  and  other  useful 
books  were  suffered  always  te  lie  in  the  places  appointed  for 
servants,  especially  in  great  families,  it  might  be  an  allurement 
to  them  to  employ  some  of  their  leisure  iu  a  profitable  manner. 
The  placing  it  in  aoj  room  of  usual  residence^  may  entice  per- 


viii  PREFACE. 

sons  often  to  look  Into  it,  and  lead  them  into  an  easy  acquaint- 
ance with  the  various  dealings  of  God  witli  men  from  the  be- 
ginning of  the  world. 

Nor  can  I  think  it  would  be  a  vain  or  useless  employment 
for  persons  who  are  not  furnished  with  better  advantages  for 
Scripture  knowledge,  to  read  it  over  once  in  a  year  or  two, 
in  order  to  keep  these  sacred  memoirs  ever  fresh  in  their  minds. 
Half  a  chapter  in  a  week  would  be  eo  heavy  task,  and  this 
would  finish  it  in  one  year's  time. 

May  the  divine  blessing  attend  this  feeble  endeavour  of  ipine 
to  diffuse  the  knowledge  of  divine  thmgs  among  mankind,  and 
to  furnish  families  with  useful  matter  for  conversation,  wher^iby 
they  may  be  better  secured  against  the  temptations  of  loose 
and  vicious  writings,  and  vain  discourse,  which  give  an  unliappy 
tincture  to  the  imagination  in  early  years,  and  tend  to  defile 
and  destroy  the  soul. 


<> 


THE 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS, 


THE  OLD  TESTAMENT. 

PAGE. 

The  Introduction, -         1 

An  Account  of  the  several  Dispensationa  of  God  toward 

Men, 2 

Chap.  I.     The   History   of  Mankind  before   the  Flood, 

nameljr,  of  Adam,  Eve,  (Jain,  Abel,  Enoch,  &c.         .         3 
Chap.  IF.     Of  Noah,  Abraham,  and  their  Families  after 

the  Flood, 9 

Sect.  1.     Of  Noah  and  his  Sons,         .         .  .  .9 

Sect.  2.     Of  Abraham  and  Lot,  Ishmael  and  Isaac,  12 

Sect.  3.     Of  Esau  and  Jacob,  and  their  Posterity,  17 

Chap.  III.     The  Dehverance  of  the  Israelites  from  Egjrpt 

by  Moses  and  Aaron,         ......       21 

Chap.  IV.     Of  the  Moral  Law,  .  .  .  .       2U 

Cliap,   V.     Of  the  Ceremonial  Law  of  the  Jews,  .  28 

Sect.  1.     Of  the  Ceremonies  of  Purification,  .  29 

Sect.  2.     Of  the  Holy  Persons,  namely.  Priests,  Le- 

vites,  Nazaritep,         .         , 32. 

Sect.  3.     Of  the  Holy  Places,  particularly  the  Taber- 
nacle, ........       34 

Sect.  4.  Of  the  Holy  Thini??,  namely,  the  Ark,  Table, 
Candlestick,  Altars,  Laver,  Holy  Garments,  Sacrifi- 
ces, Incense,  Ointment,  Water  of  Purification,  &c.  36 
Sect.  5.  Of  the  Holy  Times,  Feasts  and  Fasts,  the 
Sabbaths,  the  New  Moons,  the  Pass-over,  Pentecost, 
Feast  of  Tabernacles,  Day  of  Atonement,  &c.  44 
Sect.  6.  The  Use  of  the  Jewish  Ceremonies,  both  te 
tlic  Jews  and  to  Christians,          ....         49 


CONTENTS. 


X 

PAGE, 
€hap.  VI.     Of  the  Political  or  Judicial  Law  of  the  Jews, 
namely,  of  their  Wars,  Marriages,  Food,  Raiment, 
Cattle,  Sabbatical  Year,  Jubilee,  &c.  .  -  52 

Chap.  VII.     Of  the  Sins  and  Punishments  of  the  Jews  in 

the  Wilderness, ^^ 

Chap.  VIII.     Of  the  Jews'  Entrance  into  Canaan,  and 

their  first  Government  by  Judges,  .  .  .       62 

Sect.  1.     Of  their  Possession  of  Canaan,  and  destroying 

the  old  Inhabitants, 62 

Sect.  2.  Of  the  Government  of  the  Jews  by  Judges, 
namely,  Ehud;  Shamgar,  Deborah,  Gideon,  Jephthah, 
Samson,  &c.         .         .  •  ....       68 

Chap.  IX.     Of  the  Government  of  the  Jews  under  their 

Kings  ;  and  first  of  Saul  and  David,         .  .  ..75 

Chap.  X.     Of  the  Reign  of  Solomon  and  Rehoboam  over 
all  Israel,  and  the  Division  of  the  Nation  into  two 

Kingdoms,         .         .         » ^^ 

Chap.  XI.     Of  the  Kings  of  Israel  ,         ...  .89 

Chap.  XII.     Of  the  Kings  of  Judah,         .         .         •  ^^ 

Chap.  XIII.  Of  the  Return  of  the  Jews  from  Captivity, 
and  the  building  the  City  of  Jerusalem  and  the  Tem- 
ple, under  the  Conduct  of  Ezra  and  Nehemiali,  108 
Chap.  XIV.  The  History  of  Job,  .  .  •  .117 
Chap.  XV.  The  History  of  Jonah,  .  .  .  .12a 
Chap.  XVI.  The  History  of  Jeremiah,  ...  122 
Chap.  XVII.  The  History  of  Daniel,  ...  128 
Chap.  XVIII.  The  History  of  Esther,  .  —  .  133 
Chap.  XIX.     A  Continuation  of  the  Jewish  History  from 

the  End  of  the  Old  Testament  to  the  Times  of  Christ,     137 
Sect.  1.     Of  Nehemiah's  further  Reformation  ;  ofSyn- 

ag02:ue?,  Targuras,  Samaritans,  Proselytes,  &:c.  138 
Sect.  2.     Of  the  Jewish  affuirs  under  the  Persian  and 
Grecian  IVTonarchies,  and  particularly  under  Alexan- 
der the  Great, .•„.•■*•' 

Sect.  3.  The  Jewish  Affairs  under  the  Ptolemies  Kmgs 
of  Egypt.  Of  th^  great  Synagogue,  the  Mishnah  and 
Talmud,  and  Septuagint,  or  Greek  Translation  of  the 

Bible, ^^"^ 

Sect.  4.  Of  the  Jewish  Affairs  \mder  Antiochus  the 
Great,  Seleucus,  and  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  Kings  of 
Syria, •  1^4 


CONTENTS.  xi 

^      PACK. 

Sect.  5.  Of  Mattathias  the  great  Reformer,  the  Father 
of  the  Maccabees,         •         .         .         .    *    .         .         158 

Sect.  6,  Of  the  Jewish  Government  under  the  Asmo- 
neans,  or  Maccabees  ;  and  first  of  the  three  Brothers, 
Judas,  Jonathan,  and  Simon,         ....         161 

Sect.  7.  Of  the  Posterity  and  Successors  of  Simon, 
and  of  the  several  Sects  among  the  Jews,  namely, 
Pharisees,  Sadducees,  Essenes,  Herodians,  and  Kara- 
ites,        .........  176 

Sect.  8.     Of  the  Government  of  Herod  the  Great,  and 
his  Posterity,        -         .         ,         .         .         -        .         191 
^hap.  XX.     A  Prophetical  Connection  between  the  Old 
Testament  and  the  New,  by  a  View  of  the  Prophecies 
relating  to  Christ,  and  their  Accomplishment,         .        203 


THE  NEW  TESTAMENT. 

Chap.  XXL     Qf  John  the  Baptist,         .         .                 .  2® 
Chap.  XXII.     Of  the  Birth  and  Childhood  of  Jesus  Christ,  227 
Chap.  XXIII.     Of  the  public  Life  and  Ministry  of  Christ,  230 
Introduction.     His  Preparation  for  his  public  Work,  230 
Sect.  1.     Jesus  Christ's  Appearance,  with  the  Charac- 
ters of  the  Messiah, 232 

'Sect.  2.     Of  the  Subjects  of  his  Preaching,  his  Parables, 

Disputes,  &c 234 

Sect.  3.     Of  the  Miracles  of  Christ,         .         ,         .  241 

Sect.  4.     The  Example  of  Christ,         .         .         .  242 

Sect.  5.     His  calling  the  Apostles,  and  instructing  them,  244 
Sect.  6.     His  appointment  or  Institution  of  the    two 

Sacraments, 246 

Sect.  7.     Remarkable  Occurrences  or  Transactions  in 

the  Life  of  Christ, 248 

Chap.  XXir.    Of  the  Death,  Resurrection,  and  Ascen- 
sion of  Christ,         ......  252 

Sect.  1.     Of  his  Sufferings,  Death,  and  Burial,         .  252 
Sect.  2.     Of  the  Resurrection  of  Christ,  and  his  seve- 
ral Appearances  to  his  Disciples,         .         .          .  259 
Sect,  3.     Of  hi£  Ascension  to  heaven,        .        .        .  262 


xu  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Chap.  XXV.     Of  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  chiefly  Peter, 

and  John,  and  the  Deacons  Stephen  and  Philip,       .       263 

Chap.  XXVI.     The  Acts  of  Paul  the  Apostle,  his  Travels  % 

and  Sufferings^  hisCiife  and  Death,        .        .        .        S73 


OF    THE    WHOLE 

SCRIPTURE    HISTORY,  &c. 

The  History  of  the  Old  Testament. 


THE  INTRODUCTION. 

THERE  is  no  liistory  in  the  world  so  ancient  as  the 
Bible,  nor  is  there  any  whicli  gives  us  so  early  an  ac- 
count of  things.  The  Old  Testament  begins  with  the 
creation  of  the  world,  brings  us  into  accjuaintance  with 
Atlain  and  Eve,  our  first  parents,  informs  us  of  their  state 
of  innocence,  their  sin  a;^ainst  God,  and  their  being  driv* 
on  out  of  paradise  ;  it  recounts  the  first  generations  of 
men,  and  their  multiplied  iniquities,  which  provoked  God 
to  destroy  tiiem  by  a  flood. 

Then  it  treats  of  the  character,  circurastanceA  and 
c«)nduct  of  Noah  and  Abraham,  and  of  their  families  af- 
ter tlie  flotHl,eidarging  most  upon  the  iiousehold  of  Jacob, 
or  Israel,  tl^e  gnnulson  of  Abraham,  who,  at  the  invitation 
of  his  s»)n  Joseph,  went  down  witli  his  family  to  dwell  in 
Egypt,  vhere  triey  were  enslave<l  by  Pharaoh  the  king. 

liie  history  proceeds  to  the  deliverance  of  the  Israel- 
ites out  of  Egyptian  bondage  by  Moses  and  Aaron,  and 
iheir  being  set  apart  to  be  a  peculiar  people  to  GotL  It 
rehearses  the  laws  and  statutes  which  were  given  them, 
logetlicr  with  their  sins  and  punishments  while  they  were 


^  INTRODUCTION. 

in  the  wilderness,  travelling  to  the  land  of  Canaan,  whicji 
God  had  promised  them. 

Then  there  follows  an  account  of  their  conquest  over 
the  land  of  Canaan  under  the  conduct  of  Joshua  ;  their 
government  bj judges  several  hundred  years;  and  after 
that  there  is  a  narrative  of  their  four  first  kings,  viz. 
Saul,  David,  Solomon,  and  Rehoboam.  In  his  days  the 
nation  was  divided  into  two  kingdoms,  which  were  call- 
ed the  kingdom  of  Israel,  and  the  kingdom  of  Judah. 

There  are  also  particular  records  of  the  government 
of  these  two  distinct  kingdoms,  under  a  long  succession 
of  their  own  kings,  till  they  were  both  carried  into  cap- 
tivity by  the  kings  of  Assyria. 

After  this,  the  sacred  history  relates  the  return  of 
many  of  them,  (cinefly  the  tribes  of  Judah  and  Benja- 
min) into  their  ov»'n  land,  and  their  rebuilding  tlie  city  of 
Jerusalem,  and  the  temple  of  God,  and  the  settlement  of 
the  affairs  of  the  church  and  state  by  Ezra  and  Nehemi- 
ah,  which  is  the  end  of  the  historical  part  of  the  Old 
Testament. 

During  all  this  time  there  is  an  account  given  of  the 
several  prophets  and  messengers  which  were  sent  from 
God  on  special  occasions  to  reveal  his  mind  and  will  to 
men:  and  there  is  also  a  larger  and  more  particular  nar- 
rative of  the  lives  or  transactions  of  some  extraordinary 
persons,  several  of  wliich  are  much  intei* woven  with  the 
series  of  the  history:  but  there  are  others  wliich  seem  to 
stand  separate  and  distinct ;  such  are  the  affairs  relating 
to  Job,  a  rich  man  of  the  East,  Jonah  a  Prophet  in  Israel, 
and  Esther  the  Queen  of  Persia,  to  Avhich  I  have  added 
some  account  of  Jeremiah  and  Daniel,  the  prophets,  in 
distinct  chapters. 

At  tlie  end  of  these  I  have  put  in  two  chapters  before 
the  beginning  of  the  New  Testament,  which  contain  an 
Historical  and  Prophetical  Connection  between  the  Old 
Testament  and  the  JS'eiv  ;  of  which  I  have  given  an  ac- 
count in  the  Introduction  to  those  particular  chapters, 
as  vyell  as  in  the  general  Preface. 


,p.  1,  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY,  S 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  History  of  ^Mankind  before  the  Flood. 
• 
I   finest.    How  came Jthis  world  into  being? 
•insw.    In  iho  bedJining  the  great  God  made  heaven 
and  earth,  and  all  Uiings  that  are  in  them,     GenA,  1. 
E.vod.  XX.  11. 

•2  ((.     How  did  God  make  all  things? 
»?.     By  his  jxiwerful  word,  for  he  commanded,  and  it 
was  done'.    Geu.  i.  3,  G,  9,  &c.    Ileh,  xi.  S.  Psalm  xxxiii.  9. 

.Vc/c.  We  r.n;  also  infomied  in  the  New  Testament,  that 
Ood  created  all  things  by  his  son  Jems  Christy  Eph.  iii.  9.  and 
that  his  name  is  The  Word  of  G»d.    John  i.  3.  Rev.  xix.  13. 

3  Q.    What  time  did  God  spend  in  making  the  world  i* 
S»     God,  who  could  have  made  all  things  ut  once,  bj 

his  perfect  wisdom  and  almiglity  power,  chose  rather  to 
do  it  by  degrees,  and  spent  six  days  in  making  tlie  world, 
with  the  creatures  that  are  in  it.   (ien.  i.  3 1 .  Exod.  xx.  11. 

4  Q.     What  was  his  work  on  tlie  first  day? 

A,  He  made  light,  and  divided  it  from  the  darkness, 
and  the  evening  and  the  morning  were  tiie  first  day. 
Gen.  i.  3,  5. 

J  H.    What  did  God  make  the  second  day? 

»f.  The  air  or  the  lower  heavens,  which  are  herecalt- 
A  the  Firmament,  and  the  clouds,  which  are  the  waters 
above  the  firmament,     ver.  0. 

i\  ({.     What  did  he  do  on  the  tliird  day? 

J.  He  separated  the  earth  from  tliC  sea,  and  made 
ilie  trees  and  hi-rbs  to  grow  out  of  the  ground,  rer.  8-12. 

7  ((.     What  was  the  work  ot  the  fourth  day? 

»i.  The  sun,  moon,  and  stars,  whiili  were  appointed 
To  give  light  upcui  the  earth,  and  to  make  our  days,  our 
months,  and  our  years,     ver.  14 — 19. 

8  ^.     What  was  the  fifth  day's  work  ? 

•1.  The  birds  and  the  fishes,  which  were  both  made 
out  of  the  water.    ver»  20 — 23. 

0  ^.     And  what  vas  the  s!\t^  aiid  t:ist  dav's  workE 


4  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY. 

Ji,  Creeping  things,  beasts,  and  man,  which  were  alt 
formed  out  of  the  earth,  vei\  24—26 ;  and  God  bless- 
ed his  creatures,  and  pronounced  his  works  ail  Aery 
good.     rer.  28,  3  k 

10  Q.     What  did  God  do  the  seventh  day  ? 

A.  God  rested  from  his  work  of  creation,  and  set 
apart  (he  seventh  day  foi'  a  holy  sabbatli,  or  day  of  rest. 
<^en.  \u  2,  3. 

11  Q.  Who  were  the  first  man  and  woman  that  God 
made  ? 

Jl.  Adam  and  Eve*  Gen,,  v.  1,  2.  1  Cor,  xv.  45. 
Gen,  iii.  20. 

12  Q.     In  what  manner  did  God  make  Adam  ? 

Ji,  lie  framed  his  body  out  of  the  dust  of  the  grouml, 
and  then  put  a  living  soul  within  him.     Gen,  ii.  7, 

IS  q.    How  did  God  make  Eve  ? 

*^,  He  cast  Adam  into  a  deep  sleep,  and  formed  Eve 
out  of  one  of  his  ribs,  and  then  brought  her  to  him  to  be 
his  wife.     Gen.n,  20,,  21,  &c. 

14  Q.    In  what  state  did  God  create  them  ? 

Jl.  G>od  created  them  both  m  his  ov/n  likeness,  in  a 
holy  and  happy  state,  which  is  called  tiie  stale  of  inno- 
cence.    Gen,  i»  26. 

15  Q.  Where  did  God  put  Adajn  and  Eve  when  he 
jiad  made  them  ? 

Jl,  Into  the  garden  of  Eden,  to  keep  it,  and  take  care 
of  it,  that  even  m  the  state  of  innocence  and  happiness, 
they  miglit  have  some  work  tOr  be  employed  in.  Geiv, 
ii.  15. 

3  6  Q.     What  was  their  food  in^  that  garden  ? 

Ji.  God  gave  them,  leave  to  eat  of  any  of  the  herb?, 
plants,  or  fruits,  that  grew  tliere,  except  the  fruit  of  oii>i 
tree,  which  he  forbid  them  to  taste  of  on  pain  of  death. 
Gen.  i.  29,  and  ii.  16,.  17. 

17  Q.     What  was  tl-.e  name  of  that  tree  ? 

A.  It  was  called  the  tree  of  the  Knowledge  of  good 
and  evil,  because  as  soon  as  man  eat  of  it,,  he  would 
know  evil  to  his  sorrow,  as  well  as  h.e  knew  good  before 
to  his  comfort,     ver.  17,  and  chap.  iii.  5. 

18  ({,     As  there  was  one  tree  so  dangerous,  that  it 


Ohap.!.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  5 

exposed  him  to  death  if  he  eat  of  it,  w  as  there  not  also  a 

(tree  that  would  secure  lam  from  death  r 
[  *.9.  Yes  ;  there  was  a  tree  called  the  tree  of  life y  placed 
in  the  midst  of  the  garden,  whose  fruit  was  also  able  to 
have  preserved  him  in  life,  if  he  had  continued  to  obey 
God,  Gen.  ii.  9,  and  chap,  iii.  22,  and  it  is  reasonably 
supposed  to  be  designed  as  a  pledge  or  seal  of  eternal 
lite  to  him,  if  he  had  continued  in  his  innocency. 

19  ^.  What  was  the  religion  of  Adam  in  the  state 
of  innocency? 

.^.  Tiie  practice  of  all  the  duties  toward  God,  and 
toward  his  creatures,  which  the  light  of  nature  or  reason 
could  teach  him  ;  together  with  his  observance  of  this 
one  positive  precept  of  abstaining  from  the  fruit  of  the 
tree  of  knowledge  ;  and  this  was  g;iven  him  as  a  special 
test  or  trial  of  his  obedience  to  his  ^laker.  This  is  call- 
ed   the    DlSl»ENSATION    OF    INNOCKNCE. 

20  (I.  How  did  Adam  behave  himself  in  this  time  of 
his  trial  r 

A,  He  eat  of  the  fruit  of  thf"  tree  of  knowledge,  which 
G(xl  had  forbid  him^on  pain  of  deatn.  Gen.  ii.  IT,  and 
chap.  iii.  G. 

21  (^.  How  cai»e  Adam  to  disobey  God,  and  eat  of 
this  forbidden  tree  r 

A,  Eve  first  was  peisuaded  to  eat  of  that  deadly 
fruit,  and  then  she  persuaded  Adam  to  eat  of  it  too. 
Gen.  iii.  12.  '  • 

22  ({,     Who  tempted  Eve  to  eat  of  it  ? 

J],  The  Evil  Spirit,  that  is  the  Devil,  which  lay  hid 
In  the  serpent.  Gen.  iii.  1.  2  Cor,  xi.  3.  and  for  this 
reason  he  is  called  the  uld  Serpent.     Jtev.  xii.  9. 

23  ({.     What  mischief  followetl  from  hence  ? 

A.     As  Adam  sinned  against  God,  so  he  brouglit  inc' 
sin  and  death  among  all  mankind,  who  were  his  chil- 
dren, and   they  have  spread   through  all  generations. 
Jiom.v.  12. 

24  ^.  Then  God  did  not  put  Adam  and  Eve  to 
death  as  soon  as  they  had  sinned  r 

jL  No  ;  but  they  were  condemned  to  die ;  and  be- 
came liable  to  sickness  and  death ;  they  were  driven  out 


6  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY. 

of  the  garden  of  paradisej  tliat  ihey  might  not  taste  of 
the  tree  of  life,  and  they  were  appointed  to  labour  hard 
for  their  food  all  their  (lavs.  Gen.  iii.  19, 23. 

25  Q.  I>id  God,  who  spared  their  life,  shew  them 
any  further  pit^  ? 

*4.  Yes;  he  ^ave  them  a  kind  promise,  and  clothed 
them  with  the  skins  of  beasts,  because  thej  were  naked.. 
Gen.  iii.  15,  21. 

26  Q.  What  was  the  kind  promise. that  he  gave 
them  ? 

•S.  That  the  seed  of  the  woman  shonld  break  the  head 
of  the  serper/f,  who  tempted  them  to  sin.     Gen.. iii.  U~. 

27  ^.     Who  is  this- seed  of  the  woman  ? 

J.  The  Lord  Jesus  Christ, the  Son  of  God,  who  in 
due  time  was  born  of  a  woman     Gal.  iv.  4. 

28  (I.  What  is  meant  by  his  tweaking  the  serpent's 
head  ? 

A  That  Clirist  should  diestiH)y  the  wicked  works 
and  designs  of  the  Devil,  and  thereby  save  mankind 
trom  the  sin  and  death,  \<^hich  were  brought  in  among 
them  by  his  temptation.     1.  John  i\\.^8.    Ileb.u.14,15.. 

29  ^.  Whence  came  the  skins*  of  the  beasts  with 
which  God  clothed  Adam  and  Eve?.» 

►3.  It  is  likely  God  taught  Adam  to  offer  sacrifices^ 
at  this  time,  and  that  these  were  the  skins  of  the  beasts 
that  were  offered  in  sacrifice. 

J^ote.  Whether  flesh  was  eaten  by  the  religious  families  be- 
fore the  flood,  is  uncertain  ;  but  it  does  not  appear  that  God 
had  given  Adam  express  leave  to  eat  flesh,  Gen.  i.  29,  chap.  \'u 
26,  and  ix.  23,  and  then  there  could  be  no  skins  to  be  had 
from  beasts  killed  for  food.  But  the  sin  of  man  deserved  death  %, 
and  it  was  probably  at  this  time  that  God  appointed  beasts  to 
be  sacrificed  or  put  to  death,  to  shew  that  sin  deserved  death^ 
and  to  make  a  sort  of  typical  atonement,  or  answer  for  the  sin 
of  man;  since  cutting  and  burning- God's  living  creatures  does 
act  seem  to  be  a  contrivance  of  man  himself  to  appease  God 
for  his  own  sin.  Then  it  is  natural  to  suppose  that  God  clothed 
Adam  and  Eve  with  the  skins  of  those  beasts  which  were  sacri- 
ficed, to  shew  them,  in  a  typical  or  figurative  way,  that  as 
clothes  covered  the  naked  body  from  shame  and  harm,  so  sacri- 
fices, ofl'ered  according  to  God's  appointment,  should  in  some 
isensfr  protect  them  from  the  punishment  which  sin  had  descrv  - 
ed. 


Chap.  1.  SCIUPTUIIK  1I1ST0R\ .  7 

And  it  is  very  possible  Cod  mit^it  inform  Adam  fhat  all  lliet^fr 
appointments  were  only  a  figure  of  Chri-t  the  e;reat  ^acri^lcc» 
the  seed  of  the  vuman^  who  shauld  nialcf-  a  real  and  efTectunl 
atoaeiiicnt  for  sin  hereafter  by  his  own  death.  I  confes*  all  this 
does  not  so  evidently  a}»pear  in  the  writinj^  of  Moses,  nor  conld 
it  be  expected,  where  the  account  of  things*  in  these  eariy  tiine:» 
is  so  exceed rnc  short ;  though  it  is  Tery  agreeable  to  the  dis- 
coveries made  in  the  following  parts  of  Scripture.  I  add  yet 
further  that  siicrifices  might  be  instituted  at  this  time  with  this 
view  and  design,,  even  though  Adam  himself  might  not  be  in- 
formed of  it:  for  tfie  great  tfod  does  not  always  imraediatelv 
reveal  to  his  creatures  the  reason  and  design  of  all  his  j  ' 
or  his  providence*.     Job  xxxiii.  1-1. 

SO  Q..  What  was  the  religion  of  man  after  the  fall 
or  sin  of  Atlnm? 

»?.  All  the  duties  of  tlie  \vA\i  of  nature  which  were 
1  ecjuired  before :  and  besiiles  these  he  was  now  called  to 
repentance  for  sin,  faith  or  trust  in  the  mercy  of  God, 
expectation  of  the  promised  Saviour,  and  ottering  of 
saciificesi.  This  is  called  the  Adamical  DisrENSAriON 
uf  tlie  covenant  of  grace,  and  it  reached  to  Noah*s  floods 

31   i^.     >Vho  were  Adanir's  tirst  children? 

»^,    Cain  and  Abel.     Gen,\\\  1,2. 

3^2  Q.     AVhat  was  Cain  ?- 

J.  Adam's  eldest  sou,  and  he  was  a  tiller  of  tins 
.  oumL     Geii.  iv.  1,  2. 

33  Q.     But  what  mischief  did  Cain  do? 

J.  He  killed  his  brother  Abel,  who  was  a  keeper  of 
sheep.     Gen.  iv.  2,  8. 

34  q.     Why  did  Cain  kill  him  ? 

%7.  Because  his  own  works  were  evil,  and  Go<l  did 
«ot  accept  his  sacrifices  ;  but  his  brotlier*s  works  were 
righteous,  and  God  gave  some  token  that  he  accepted 
him.     Gen.  iv.  4,  5.   1  John,  iii.  18. 

55  ({.  Whither  went  ^in  when  God  reproved  him 
for  tliis  murder  ?  w 

*i.  He  went  out,  and  departed  from  the  presence  of 
r!ie  Lord,  and  from  his  father's  family,  wheje  God  was 

liijhipped.     Gen.  iv.  16. 

36  ({.     What  were  the  posterity  of  Cain  ? 

Jl.    JSome  of  them  are  famous  for  inventions  of  music 


r      .  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY. 

and  handicraft-trades,  but  they  are  supposed  to  have 
neglected  religion.     Gen,  iv.  £0,  22. 

37  Q.     What  other  son  had  Adam  ? 

*^.  Seth,  who  was  born  soon  after  the  death  of  Abel, 
and  several  others  after  him.    Gen,  iv.  25,  and  v.  4. 

38  Q.     Did  the  children  of  Seth  neglect  religion  too? 

^1.  Religion  was  publicly  maintained  for  some  gene- 
rations in  Seth's  family,  for  they  distinguished  them- 
selves from  the  wicked  Sons  of  men,  they  prayed  to 
God,  and  were  called  the  Sons  of  God.  Gen.  iv.  26. 
and  chap.  vi.  2,  4. 

39  Q.     Did  they  grow  degenerate  afterwards  ? 

»5.  All  mankind  grew  so  wicked,  except  a  very  few, 
that  God  saw  it  proper  to  manifest  his  righteous  judg- 
ment, and  his  anger  against  sin,  by  destroying  them. 
Gen.  vi.  5-^-7. 

40  Q.  Who  were  some  of  the  chief  persons  of  Seth's 
postenty  mentioned  in  Scripture  in  those  early  times  r 

1^.  Enoch  and  Methuselah,  Lamech  and  Noah,  were 
the  most  remarkable. 

41  Q.    Who  was  Enoch? 

Jl.  The  man  who  walked  with  God  and  pleased  him 
in  the  midst  of  a  wicked  world,  and  foretold  the  judg** 
ment  of  God  on  sinners.     Gen.  v.  22.  Jude  14,  15. 

JVo/e.  When  Enoch  and  Noah  are  said  to  walk  ivith  God^ 
some  learned  men  have  supposed,  that  it  does  not  only  signify 
that  they  behaved  themselves  always  as  in  the  presence  of  God, 
and  conversed  with  him  by  meditation  and  prayer,  and  walked 
in  his  ways ;  but  that  God  appeared  of  old  to  these  pious  men, 
as  he  did  to  Abraham,  and  walked  and  conversed  with  them  in 
a  bodily  form  ;  and  this  was  the  original  of  that  phrase,  walking 
•with  God^  to  signify  the  practice  of  religion. 

42  Q.    What  became  of  Enoch  ? 

Jl.  God  took  him  to  heaffen  without  dying,  as  a  pe- 
culiar favour  and  honour  doiiPto  him.  Gen.  v.  24.  Ueb. 
xi.  5. 

43  Q.    Who  wa?  Methuselah  ? 

Ji.  The  son  of  Enocli,  and  the  oldest  man  that  we 
ever  read  of.     Gen.  v.  21. 

44  Q.    How  long  did  he  live  ? 


Sect.  1.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  9 

Ji.    Nine  hundred  and  sixty-nine  years.     Gen.  v.  27. 

45  Q.     Who  was  I^amech  ^ 

Ji,  Noah's  father,  \Tho  prophesied  of  the  blessing  the 
earth  shouUl  fim!  in  liis  son,  which  had  been  laid  under 
a  curse  for  the  sin  of  Adam.     6?^/?.  v.  29. 

CHAP.  ir. 

OfA^och,  ^ibrahnm,  nnil  their  Families, njter  the  Floods 

Sect.  I.     Of  JK*oah  and  fiis  Sons. 

1  Q.     Who  was  Noah  r 

•I.  The  righteous  man,  who  was  saved  when  the 
T\  orld  was  drowned  bv  a  flood.     Gen.  vii.  23. 

2  ({.     How  did  God  chown  the  world  ? 

J.  When  mankind  had  provoked  liim  by  their  sins, 
■  hirli  were  exceedinj^  great.  Gen.  vi.  5,  6,  7,  he  broke 
.j>  the  fountains  of  the  credit  deep  under  ground,  and 

caused    it  to  rain  forty  days,  and  forty  niglits.     Gen. 

vii.  4,  11. 

3  ^.     H(jjjv  was  Noah  saved  ? 

.?.  In  an.  ark,  or  great  ship  or  vessel,  which  God 
*  iiight  him  to  build.     Gen.  vi.  9»  14,  &.c. 

Xoie.     Noah  had  warnincf  of  this  jndsjment  of  God  one  hun- 

•cd  and   twenty  yrars  before  it  came  to  pa?^.     (Jtn.  vi.  3. 

\nd  as  he  was  a  preacher  of  righteousne.-s^  2  Pel.  ii.  5,  so  we 

nay  iii«(lj  suppose  he  cave  continual  warning  to  a  sinful  world 

h]le  the  Ark  was  building.    1  Pet.  iii.  19,  -20.  lieb.  xi.  7. 

4  ({.     Who  was  saved  with  him  ? 

•>!.  All  his  family,  and  s(Mne  liviug  cre.;tnrfsof  everv 
kind,  liarr.ely,  two  of  every  unclean  bea?t  and  bird  whicli 
•.  (te  neither  fit  for  food  or  sacrifice,  and  seven  of  every 
c  lean  creature  wb.ich  were  fit  lor  one  or  both  uses.  6reK* 
>iii.  ^,3,  13,  14. 

J   ({.    How  long^ did  Noah  tarry  in  tliis  ark  ? 


10  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  2. 

Jl.  At  nine  months  end  he  sent  forth  a  dove,  which 
brought  in  an  olive-branch,  to  shew  him  that  the  waters 
were  abated  ;  and  at  the  end  of  twelve  months  and  ten 
days  he  came  forth,  and  the  creatures  which  were  with 
him.     Gen.xu.  11,  and  viii.  5 — 13. 

6  ({.     What  commands  did  G(kI  give  Noah  B 

t^.  The  oftering  of  sacrifices  was  continued,  ^en, 
viii.  20,  21.  Flesh  was  given  to  man  for  food,,  as  ht^-bs 
were  before.  Oen.  ix.  2,  3.  Blood  was  forbidden  to  be 
eaten,  the  blood  of  man  was  expressly  forbid  to  be  slied, 
and  murder  was  to  be  punished  with  death.  Gen.  ix.  4, 
5,6. 

JVb/e.  Tlie  religion  of  Noah  -wns  the  5ame  with  that  of  Adam- 
after  his  fall,  {See  Chap.  I.  Q.  30)  >vith  these  few  additions^ 
here  mentioned.  And  this  was  the  Noaiichical  dispensation 
of  the  covenant  of  grace,  whereby  all  men,  from  Noah  to  Abra- 
ham, were  to  seek  salvation  ;  and  whereby  all  besides  the 
family  of  Abraham  were  to  be  saved,  even  all  the  heathen 
world,  till  they  hear  of  Christ. 

7  (^.     What  promise  did  God  make  to  Noah  ? 

•/?.  That  the  world  should  never  be  drowned  again> 
and  it  pleased  God  to  appoint  the  rainbow  to  be  a  token 
of  it.     Gen,  ix.  13— 15. 

8  Q.     Was  there  no  rainbow  before  the  flood  ? 

J].  It  is  probable  that  there  was  no  raifi  before  the 
flood,  for  the  earth  was  watered  daily  by  a  tliick  mist. 
Gen.  ii.  5,  6,  and  then  there  could  be  naturally  no  rain- 
bow, for  it  is  made  by  the  sunbeams  sbining  upon  falling 
rain. 

9  Q.  Wlio  were  Noah*s  three  sons  ? 

J,  Shorn,  Ham,  and  Japliet ;  and  they  were  tiie 
fethers  of  all  mankind  after  the  flood.  Gen.  ix.  18,  19, 
and  X.  32. 

1 0  Q.    AVlio  were  the  offspring  or  posterity  of  Shem  r 
•B.    The  Persians,  who  came  from  Elam  their  father ; 

tlie  Syrians  from  Aram ;  the  Hebrews  from  Eber,  a^  is 
supposed  :  and  particularly  tlie  Jews,  with  other  inhabi- 
tants of  Asia.     Gen.  x.  21. 

11  Q.    AV!io  were  the  posterity  of  Ham  r 


«ectl.  8CRIPTURE  HISTORY.  11 

J.  The  Canaanitcs,  the  Philistines,  and  others  in 
Asia,  and  the  Egyptians,  with  other  inhabitants  or  Africa. 
Geu.  X.  6,  &c. 

12  4{,     Who  were  the  posterity  of  Japhet? 

•i.  Gomer,  supposed  to  be  the  father  of  the  Germans, 
Javan  of  the  Greeks,  Meshech  of  the  Muscovites,  and 
other  families  tliat  dwelt  in  Europe.     Gen,  x.  2. 

13  Q.  Wherein  did  Ham  the  father  of  the  Canaan- 
itcs do  amiss  ? 

J,  He  saw  his  father  Noah  naked,  and  made  sport 
with  him,  and  lie  was  cursed  under  the  name  of  his  son 
Canaan.     Grew.  ix.  21,  25. 

J^'ote.  It  is  probabJe  that  Canaan  joined  with  his  father 
Ham  in  the  mockery  of  his  grandfather  Noah,  and  therefore  he 
Mas  cursed :  and  besides,  this  gave  early  notice  to  the  Israelites, 
that  the  Canaanites,  whose  land  God  gave  them  to  possess, 
were  a  people  unJer  an  ancient  curse. 

14^.  What  did  Shem  and  Japhet  do  on  this  occa- 
>ion  ? 

J.  They  covered  their  father  with  a  garment,  and 
concealed  iiis  shame,  and  were  blessed.  Gen.  ix.  23, 
26,  27. 

15  Q.  Did  mankind  freely  divide  themselves  after 
ttie  flood  into  several  nations? 

JL  No  ;  but  being  all  of  one  language,  they  agreed 
ilher  to  build  a  chief  city  with  a  tower,  tiiat  all  men 

!2;ht  be  joined  in  one  natnm  or  kingdom.     Gen.xi.  4. 

rJ  (J.  How  did  God  scatter  them  abroad  into  difter- 
!.t  nations? 

J.  By  making  them  speak  different  languages,  and 
len  they  ceased  to  build  the  tower,  which  was  calleil 
Jiabel,  or  Confusion,     Gen.  xi.  T — 9. 

17  Q.  Did  God  preserve  the  true  religion  in  any  of 
ilieir  families  ? 

Ji,  It  is  supposed  to  have  been  chiefly  preserved  in 
x\\c  family  of  Shem,  for  God  is  called  the  Lord  God  of 
Shem.     Gen.  ix.  26. 

JS'ole.  Thougb  tbe  knowledge  of  the  true  God  and  religion 
were  chiefly  preserved  in  the  family  of  Shem,  yet  it  is  evident 
<hat  some  bnuiches  of  Hnai's  family,  and  probably  of  Japhet** 


J2  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Ciiap.  2 

too,  preserved  it  for  some  hundreds  of  years :  for  Melchisedek,  a 
king  of  the  Canaanites  in  Abraham's  time,  was  a  priest  of  the 
most  high  God  :  and  Ahimelech,  a  king  of  the  Philistines,  feared 
God,  and  had  a  sense  of  religion ;  and  both  these  are  derived 
from  Ham. 


Sect.  II.     Of  Abraham  and  Lot,  Ishmael  and  Isaac. 

18  Q.  Who  was  tlie  most  famous  man  of  Shem*s 
posterity  in  these  early  ages  ? 

•4.  Abraham  the  son  of  Terah,  of  the  posterity  of 
Eber.     Gen,  xi.  27, 

19  Q.  What  was  the  first  remarkable  thing  recorded 
of  Abraham  ? 

w9.  He  left  his  own  native  country  to  go  wheresoev- 
er God  called  him.     Gen  xii.  1,  4. 

20  §.  Whence  did  Abraham  come,  and  whither  did 
he  go  r 

M.  He  came  first  from  Chaldea,  then  from  Haran ; 
and  he  went  to  dwell  amon^  strangers  in  the  land  of 
Canaan.     Gen.  xi.  31,  and  xii.  5.     Heb.  xi.  8,  9. 

21  Q.    Wlio  came  with  Abraham  into  Canaan  ? 

*3.  Lot,  Ins  brother's  son;  and  they  brought  with 
them  all  their  substance  and  their  household.  Gen,  xiii.  5. 

22  Q.  Did  they  continue  to  dwell  together? 

J.  Their  cattle  and  servants  grew  so  numerous,  that 
they  parted  for  fear  of  quai  relling,  and  Abraham  gave 
Lot  his  choice  to  go  to  the  east  or  the  west.  Gen,  xiii.  1, 9. 

23  Q.     Where  did  Lot  sojourn  ? 

^i.  He  chose  the  east,  and  pitched  his  tent  towards 
s  Sodom,  because  it  was  a  well-watered  and  fniitful  coun- 
try,    ver,  10 — 12. 

'24  (J.     What  Calamity  befel  Lot  lierer 

*S.  He  was  carried  away  captive,  together  with  other 
Inhabitants  of  Sodom,  when  the  king  of  Sodom  was 
routed  in  battle  by  his  enemies.     Gen.  xiv. 

25  Q.     What  did  Abraham  do  on  this  occasion  ? 

*^-    He  armed  his  own  servants,  three  hundred  and 


-cct.  ^  SCRIPTURE  HlSTOf?.V.  io 

eighteen  men,  who  pursued  the  conque^yrt  .and  routed 
them,  and  brought  back  Lot  and  the  other  ^ptives  witli 
their  gootis.     6rpn,  xiv.  14 — 16. 

26  Q.  When  Abraham  returned  from  the  slaughter 
of  the  kings,  what  honour  was  done  him  ? 

Ji,  Melchisedek,  the  king  of  Salem,  and  the  priest  of 
the  most  high  God,  met  him,  and  pronounced  a  blessing 
upon  him.     Gen,  xiv.  1 8 — 20. 

27  Q.    What   civility  did  the  king  of  Sodom  shew 
Vbraham  ? 

J.  He  offered  him  all  the  goods  that  Abraham  had 
recovered  from  the  former  conquerors,  but  Abraham  re- 
fused to  accept  them.     ver.  21,  &c. 

28  Q.     WMiat  became  of  Sodom  afterwards  r 

^.  It  was  burnt  by  fire  and  brimstone  from  heaven, 
together  with  Gomorrah,  and  other  cities,  because  of  the 
abominable  wickedness  of  their  inhabitants.  Gen.  xix. 
24. 

29  ^.  Was  there  nobody  to  plead  with  God  to 
>pare  them  ? 

»?.  Yes  ;  Abraham  pleaded  with  God  to  spare  Sodom, 
and  God  would  have  done  it,  had  there  been  but  ten 
lighteous  men  in  all  the  city.     Gen.  xviii.  23 — w53. 

30  Q.     How  did  Lot  escape  ? 

•9,  The  two  angels,  which  were  sent  to  destroy 
Sodom,  persuaded  him  to  flee  away  with  his  family  first. 
Gen.  xix.  15. 

31  ^.  How  many  of  his  family  e8cai)ed  tliis  judg- 
ment ? 

Jl,  Only  himself  and  his  two  daughters,  for  his  two 
-ons-in-law'  refused  to  remove.     Gen.  xix.  14. 

32  Q.     What  became  of  Lot's  wife  ? 

Ji,  She  went  with  him  part  of  the  way,  bi?t  when  she 
looked  back,  hankering  after  StHlom,  she  was  struck 
«lcad  immediately,  perhaps  with  a  blast  of  that  lightning 
which  burnt  Sodom,  and  she  stood  like  a  pillai'  of  salt. 
Gen.  xix.  26. 

33  (J.     Was  Lot  a  religious  man  ? 

Jh  Ves  ;  and  his  righteous  soul  was  daily  vexed  with 
ihe  wicked  convei-sation  of  the  men  of  Sodom.  2  Fet  ii. 
7,8. 


14  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.         Chap.  2. 

34  Q.  Did  he  maintain  his  righteous  character  ever 
afterwards? 

*3.  He  once  was  enticed  into  the  sin  of  drunkenness, 
and  then  he  let  his  two  daughters  lie  with  him  and  abuse 
him.     Gen.  xix.  30,  &c. 

35  Q.     Had  Lot  any  children  by  this  sinful  action  ? 
*5.     Yes;  Moab  was  the  son  of  one  daughter,  and 

Ben-ammi  of  the  other ;  and  they  were  afterwards  the 
fathers  of  the  Moabites  and  Ammonites,  who  proved  to 
be  sore  enemies  of  God's  people.     Gen.  xix.  37,  38. 

36  Q.  Thus  ends  the  tiistory.of  Lot  and  Sodom :  let 
us  return  now  to  Abraham :  in  what  part  of  the  country 
did  he  dwell  ? 

•A.  When  he  removed  from  Lot  he  went  toward  the 
west,  and  travelling  on  toward  the  southwest,  he  sojourn- 
ed in  the  land  of  Abimelech.     Gen.  xx.  1. 

37  Q.     Who  was  Abimelech  ? 

A.  He  was  king  of  Gerar  in  the  country  of  the  Phi- 
listines.    Gen.  XX.  2,  xxi.  32. 

38  a,    Wliat  did  Abimelech  do  at  Abraham's  coming? 
d.    He  took  Sarah,  Abraham's  wife,  into  his  house  ; 

but  being  warned  of  iGrod,  he  restored  her  again. 
Gen.  XX.  2,  6^  J  4^ 

39  Q.  How  came  Abiuifilecli  to  take  Abraham's 
wife  ? 

A.  Because  she  was  a  beautiful  woman,  and  Abra- 
ham did  not  call  her  his  wife,  but  his  sister  ;  and  by  this 
means  he  exposed  her  to  be  taken  by  other  men. 
Gen.  XX.  2. 

40  Q.     What  sons  had  Abraham  ? 

A.  The  two  chief  were  Ishmael  and  leaac.  Gen. 
XXV.  9. 

41  Q.    What  was  Ishmael  ? 

A.  He  was  the  son  of  Abraham  by  Hagar  his  servant 
maid.     Gen.  xvl.  1 5.  t 

42  Q.  How  came  Abraham  to  take  his  maid  to  be 
his  concubine  ? 

A.  God  had  promised  him  a  son,  and  he  tliou^ht  his 
wife  Sarah  was  too  old  to'  have  a  child,  and  therefore  by 
hev  advice  he  took  Hagar.     Gen.  xvi.  1,  2. 


Sect.  2.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  IS 

43  Q.    AVhat  became  of  Ishmael  ? 

A.  Abraham,  by  the  command  of  God,  turned  Ishma- 
el and  his  mother  out  of  his  house  into  the  wilderness, 
because  they  mocked  and  abti*ad'^9  younger  son  Isaac. 
Gen.  w'u  9,  &c. 

44  Q.     Did  Ishmael  perish  in  tile  wilderness  ? 

A,  The  anj^el  of  God  appearecVto'^agjar,  and  shew- 
ed her  a  spring  of  water,  when  they^;m^*^'^dying  with 
tlnrst:  and  Islmiael  grew  up  to  be  a  great  mait^jnd  the 
father  of  a  large  nation.     Gen.  x\i.  16 — ^0,  ahi%kv.  16, 

45  Q,    Who  was,  Isaap*s  mother?  '   i 

A.  Isaac  was  the  son'of  AbFaHam,  by  Sarah  Ins  wife, 
according  to  the  promise  of  Goil,  when  they  were  both 
grown  old.     Gen.  xxi.  1,  &c.     Rom.  ix.  7,  8. 

46  Q.  Why  is  Abraham  called  the  father  of  the 
faithful,  i.  e.  ot  the  believers  ? 

A.  Because  he  believed  the  promises  of  God  against 
all  probable  appearance,  and  was  a  pattern  to  other  be- 
lievers in  all  ages.     Gen.  xv.  16.     Rom.  iv.  11,  12. 

47  Q.  What  were  the  three  chief  promises  which 
God  gave  v^braham? 

A.  (I.)  That  he  should  have  a  son  when  he  was  a 
Inindred  years  old.  (2.)  That  his  children  should  pos- 
sess the  land  of  Canaan,  when  he  had  not  eround  enough 
to  set  his  foot  on  tliere.  And  (3.)  that  all  the  families 
of  the  earth  should  be  blessed  in  him  and  his  offspring, 
when  he  was  but  a  private  person.  Gen.  xvii.  8,  16,  17, 
and  xii.  S.     Acts  vii.  5. 

48  Q.     What  did  this  last  promise  mean  ? 

A.  That  Jesus  Christ,  the  Sa^^our  of  men,  should 
'  ome  from  his  family.     Gal.  iii.  8,  16. 

49  Q.  What  did  God  appoint  to  Abraham  for  a  to- 
ken of  these  promises  and  this  covenant,  and  of  his  own 
acceptance  with  God  ? 

A.  He  commanded  him  and  all  his  sons  to  be  cir- 
cumcised in  all  generations.  Gen.  xvii.  7 — 10.  Rom» 
iv.  11. 

50  Q.     What  was  the  religion  of  Abraham? 

A.  The  same  with  the  religion  of  Adam  after  the  fall 
iu  Chap.  I.  Q.  30,  and  the  religion  of  Noah  under  Chap. 


16  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Ghap.  2. 

IL  Q.  6,  with  the  addition  of  circumcision,  and  the  ex- 
pectation of  Canaan  to  be  given  to  his  seed,  as  a  type  of 
heaven;  and  a  tnist  in  the  promise  of  the  Saviour,  who 
should  spring  from  him,  and  bless  all  nations. 

J^ote.  This  was  called  the  Abrahamical  dispejjsation^ 
but  it  was  confined  to  the  family  of  Abraham  in  the  literal  sense 
of  it ;  with  those  temporal  precepts  and  promises,  of  circumci- 
!*ion  and  the  inheritance  of  Canaan,  r  though  in  the  spiritual 
sense  of  it,  it  reaches  to  every  good  man ;  and  thus  Abraham  is 
their  father.     Rom.  iv.  16,  17. 

51  Q.  How  did  Abraham  further,  and  most  eminent- 
ly shew  his  obedience  to  God  ? 

»A.  In  his  readiness  to  qffer  up  his  son  Isaac  in  sa- 
crifice to  God's  command.     Gen,  xxii.  12. 

52  Q.    And  did  he  offer  him  in  sacrifice  ? 

■  Ji;  No ;  God  withheld  his  hand,  and  sent  a  ram  td. 
be  sacrificed  in  his  stead.     Gen.  xxii.  13. 

53  Q.  What  farther  favom'S  did  Abraham  receive 
from  God  ? 

S,  God  visited  him  and  conversed  widi  him  as  a 
friend  several  times  in  a  visible  manner,  and  changed 
his  name  from  Abram  to  Abraham.  Gen,.  xv»  and  xvii.. 
and  xviii.  James  ii.  23. 

54  ^.  What  is  written  concerning  Sarah,  Abraham's 
wife  ? 

^,  She  believed  God's  promise,  and  had  a  son  at 
ninety  yea^s  old,  and  her  name  also  was  changed  from 
Sarai  to  Sarah.     Gen.xvii.  15, 17.  Heb.  xi.  11. 

J^ote.  Some  learned  men  have  supposed,  that  the  addition, 
of  the  Hebrew  letter  h  to  the  names  of  Abraham  and  Sara/i^ 
signifies  a  new  relation  to  God,,  whose  name  is  Jah :  others 
think  it  to  be  a  part  of  the  word  Hamon^  which  signifies  a  mul- 
Htudc  ;  because  God  promised  many  nations  to  spring  from 
them  when  he  changed  their  names.     Gen,  xvii,  5,  16. 

55  Q.    What  is  recorded  concerning  Isaac  their  son  ? 
j3.    He  feared  the  God  of  his  father  Abraliam,  he  had 

frequent  visions  of  God,  and  went  out  into  the  fields  to. 
meditate  or  pray,  and  offered  sacrifices  to  God.-  Gen. 
xxiv.  63,  and  xxvi.  2, 24,  25. 


Sect.  5.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORW  17 

5^  ^.    Who  was  Isaat's  wife  ? 

J.  His  father  Abraham  sent  afar,  and  took  a  wife 
for  him,  even  Rebecca,  out  of  his  own  family  in  Meso- 
potamia, because  he  was  unwilling  he  should  marry 
amon^  the  wicked  Canaanites  whom  God  had  doomed 
to  destruction.     Gm,  xxiv.  3,  4,  51,  &c. 

57  Q.    What  children  had  Isaac  ? 

A,    Two  sons,£sau  and  Jacob,    Gen.  xxiv,  25,  26. 


A 


Sect.  III.     Of  Esau  and  Jacob,  and  their  Posterity. 

58  Q.     What  was  Esau  ? 

J.  He  was  Isaac's  eldest  son,  bred  up  to  hunting 
rather  than  husbandry,  who  sold  his  birth  right  to  his 
brotlier  for  a  mess  of  pottage  when  he  was  faint  with 
hunting.     Gen.  xxv.  31,  33. 

59  Q.    What  was  Jacob  ? 

»^.  The  youngest  son  of'  Isaac,  who  by  his  mother** 
contrivance  obtained  his  father's  blessing,  though  not  in 
a  right  way.     Gen.xvn^^T. 

60  Q.     By  what  treachery  did  he  obtain  tlie  blessing  2 
J.     When  his  father  Isaac  was  old  and  his  eyes  dim, 

by  order  of  his  mother,  he  put  on  Esau's  clothes,  and  told 
his  father  he  was  Esau  his  eldest  son.  •   Geru  xxvii. 

61  q.    How  did  Esau  take  this.? 

J.    Esau  threatened  to  kill  him,  and  therefore  he  left 
his  fathei-'s  hoase.     Gm.  xxvii.  41,  43. 
Whither  did  Jacob  go  ? 
.aban  the  Syrian,  who  was  his  motlier's  broth- 
er.    Ge7i.  xxviii.  2,  5. 

63  Q.     What  did  he  meet  with  in  going  thitlier  ? 

Ji.  He  lay  down  to  sleep  on  a  stone  at  Bethel,  and 
had  a  holy  dream  of  God,  and  of  angels  there  ascending 
and  descending  between  heaven  and  earth.  Gen.  xviu. 
12—14. 

64  Q.     What  did  he  do  in  Labiin's  house  ? 

J.  He  kept  his  uncle  Laban's  cattle,  and  he  married 
his  two  daughters  Rachel  and  Leah.    Gen.  xxix,  15,  &c. 


62  ^    W 
J.    ToLz 


18  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  ^. 

65  Q.    How  long  did  he  live  tliere  ? 

d.  Twenty  years,  till  he  had  got  a  large  family  of 
childten  and  servants,  much  cattle  and  great  riches. 
Gen.  XXX.  and  xxxi.  41. 

66  Q.  What  did  Jacob  meet  with  in  his  return  to 
Canaan  ? 

d.  He  had  a  vision  of  God  as  of  a  man  wrestling 
with  him.     Gen,  xxxii.  24,  &c. 

67  Q.    Why  was  Jacob-  called  Israel  ? 

•9.  Because  he  prayed  and  prevailed  with  God  for  a 
blessing,  while  he  wrestled  with  him  in  the  form  of  a 
man.     Gen.  xxxii.  28.    Hos.  xiii.  4. 

68  Q.     How  did  his  brother  Esau  meet  him  B 

.5.  God  turned  Esau'S  heart,  so  tiiat  he  met  him  with 
great  civility,  though  he  came  out  with  four  hundred 
men  (as  Jacob  feared)  to  destroy  him.     Gen.  xxxii. 

69  Q.    What  posterity  had  Esau  ? 

A.  A  large  posterity,. who  chiefly  inhabited  Mount 
Seir,  and  were  called  Edomites,  from  their  fatiier*s  other 
name  Edom.     Gen.  xxxvi.  8,  9. 

70  Q.    How  many  sons  had  Jacob  ? 

A.  Twelve,  and  they  were  called  the  twelve  Patri-^ 
archs,  because  they  were  the  fathers  of  the  twelve  tril>es 
of  Israel.     Gen.  xxxv.  22.    Acts  vii.  8.    JVumb,  i. 

71  Q.    What  are  their  names  ? 

A:,  Reuben,  Simeon,  Levi,  Judah,  Issachar,  and  Ze-- 
bulon,  the  sons  of  his  wife  Leah  ^  Joseph  and  Benjamin, 
the  sons  of  his  wife  Rachel ;  Dan  and  Napthali,  the- 
sons  of  Bilhah  his  concubine ;  and  Gad  and  Asher  the 
sons  of  Zilpah  his  concubine.     Gen.  xxxv.  23 — 26. 

72.  Q.  Who  were  the  most  famous  of  all  these  in 
sacred  history  ? 

A.    Levi,  Judah,  and  Joseph. 

73  Q.    What  is  there  remarkable  concerning  Levi  ^ 
A.    The  priesthood,  and  other  things  relating  to  the 

worship  of  God,  were  committed  to  Levi's  family  in  fol- 
lowing times.    Ikut.  xxii.  9,  and  xxviii.  8,  10. 

74  Q.  But  did  not  Levi  do  a  very  wicked  thing  m 
billing  the  Shechemites  ? 

A.    Yes  ;   he  and  his  brother  Simeon  dealt  very 


Sect.  S.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORV.  I^ 

treacherously  and  cruelly  with  them,  in  slaving  them 
after  they  had  made  a  covenant  of  peace  with  them,  Geu. 
xxxiv. 

75  Q.     How  did  Jacob  bear  this? 

A,  He  severely  reproved  them  for  it,  and  upon  his 
death-bed,  by  the  spirit  of  prophecy,  pronounced  a  curse 
upon  them,  that  they  should  be  scattered  abroad  through 
all  the  land  of  Israel.     Gen.  xxxiv.  30,.  and  xlix.  5. 

76  Q.     Was  this  curse  executed  r 

J,  Yes,,  in  some  measure  ',  for  the  Simeonites  as  well 
as  Levites  had  their  possessions  scattered  among  all  the 
tribes  of  Israel ;  but  the  curse  of  the  Levites  was  light- 
ened by  their  having  the  priesthooil  given  them.  Jush- 
na  xxi. 

77  Q.    What  is  there  remarkable  relating  to  Judah  ? 
A.     He  dealt  very  basely  with  his  daughter  in  law 

Taraar,  and  committed  sliameful  wickedness.  Gen^ 
xxxviii, 

78  Q.    Did  God  forgive  tliis  sin  ? 

A*  Yes ;  God  forgave  it  so  far  as  not  to  punish  his 
posterity  for  it :  for  the  kingdom  and  government  in  fu- 
rure  ages  was  promised  chiefly  to  his  family.  Gen.  xlix.  10. 

79  Q.    AVhat  is  there  remarkable  said  of  Joseph  ? 

A.  His  brethren  sold  him  for  a  slave  into  Egypt, 
where  he  became  the  ruler  of  the  land.  Gen.  xxxvii.  27, 
andxlii.40.     ^cfs  vii.  9. 10. 

80  Q.     Why  did  they  sell  him  r 

A.  For  envy^  because  his  father  loved  him,  and  made 
him  a  coat  of  many  colours,  and  because  he  dreamed 
that  they  should  bow  down  to  him.      Gen.  xxxvii.  3,  4. 

81  Q.  What  was  his  first  station  in  tlie  land  of 
Eg\'pt. 

A,  He  was  a  servant  in  the  house  of  Potiphar,  a 
captain  of  the  guard,  and  by  a  false  accusation  of  his 
master's  wife  he  was  cast  into  prison,  tliougli  he  was  en- 
tirely innocent.     Gen.  xxxix. 

82  Q.    What  was  the  occasion  of  his  advancement? 
A.     He  interpreted  the  dreams  of  some  of  his  fellow 

prisoners,  and  when  the  interpretation  proved  true,  then 
lie  was  sent  for  to  court  to  interpret  tne  king's  dream 
Gen.  xli. 


so  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  € 

83  Q.  And  did  this  raise  Joseph  to  be  the  ruler  of 
Egypt  ? 

J.  Yes  ;  he  was  thus  advanced]  because  he  foretold 
the  seven  years  of  plenty  and  seven  years  of  famine, 
which  Pharaoh  the  king  dreamed  of  under  two  different 
emblems  of  good  and  bad  ears  of  corn,  and  of  seven  fat 
kine  and  seven  lean  ones.     Gr^w.  xli.  39. 

84  Q.  How  did  Joseph  carry  himself  towards  his 
brethren  in  his  advancement  ? 

Ji.  In  the  famine  they  came  down  to  buy  corn  in 
Egypt,  and  bowed  down  to  him,  according  to  his  dreams ; 
but  he  treated  them  roughly  at  first,  as  a  great  lord  and 
a  stranger,  till  their  consciences  smote  them  for  their 
former  cruelty  to  him.     Gpn.  xlii.  7,  19,  21.. 

85  Q.    Did  he  then  revenge  himself  upon  them  ? 

»/?.  No ;  but  he  made  himself  known  to  them  with 
much  affection  and  tenderness.     Gen.  xlv. 

86  Q.  How  did  he  manifest  his  forgiveness  of  them  ? 
A.    He  sent  for  his  father,  and  bid  his  brethren  bnng 

all  their  families  into  Egypt,  and  he  maintained  them  all 
during  the  famine.     Gen,  xlv.  4 — 7. 

87  q.    Did  Jacob  die  in  Egypt  ? 

A.  Yes  ;  but  according  to  his  desire  his  body  was^ 
carried  up  to  the  land  of  Canaan,  and  was  buried  there, 
in  the  faith  of  the  promise,  that  his  seed  should  possess 
that  land.     Gen.  xlix.  29,  and  1.  13. 

88  Q.  What  became  of  the  families  of  Israel  after 
Joseph's  death  ? 

Ji.  They  were  made  slaves  in  Egypt,  and  a  new  king, 
who  knew  not  Joseph,  sorely  oppressed  them,  and  en- 
deavoured to  destroy  them.    Exod.  i,  1 3, 14,  1 6,^  22. 

89  Q.  Did  Joseph,  as  well  as  liis  father,  profess  any 
hope  of  his  family  and  kindred  returning  from  Egypt  in 
following  times  ? 

Ji.  Yes  ;  he  died  in  faith  of  the  promise  mad^  to  his 
fathers,  that  they  should  go  and  possess  the  land  of  Ca- 
naan ;  and  therefore  he  required  them,  when  they  went, 
to  carry  up  his  bones  and  bury  them  in  the  promised 
land.     Gen.  I.  24,  25. 


Chap.  3.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  21 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  Deliverance  of  the  I^raeliten  from  Egypt,  and  of 
\)ioses  and  Aaron, 

1  Q.  Who  delivered  the  Israelites  from  the  slavery 
of  Egypt  ? 

J.  *  God  heard  their  cry,  and  delivered  them  by  the 
hand  of  Moses  and  Aaron. '  Kxod»  iii.  9, 10,  and  xii.  31. 
Josh.  xxiv.  5,  6. 

2  Q.    Who  was  Moses  ? 

A.  He  was  one  of  the  family  of  Levi  among  the 
people  of  Israel,  who  was  wonderfully^aved  from  drown- 
ing; when  he  was  an  infant.    Exnd.  ii.  1 0. 

3  Q.     How  was  he  in  danger  of  drowning  ? 

A.  Pharaoh  tlie  king  of  Egypt  had  commanded  every 
male  child  to  be  drowned  ;  and  when  Moses's  parents 
could  hide  him  no  longer,  tliey  laid  him  by  t!ie  bank  of 
the  river  in  an  ark  or  box  of  bulrushes.  Exod.  i.  22, 
and  ii.  3. 

4  Q.    How  was  he  saved  ? 

A.  Tlie  king  of  Eff}^pt's  daughter  found  him  by  tlie 
river,  and  pitied  the  child,  and  brought  l\im  up  for  her 
own  son.     Exod,  ii.  5, 6,  9. 

5  Q.    Did  he  continue  a  courtier  in  Egypt  ?  ^ 
A.    No ;  for  when  he  was  grown  a  man  he  shewed 

pity  to  his  kindred  in  their  slavery,  and  slew  an  Eg;vp- 
tian ;  wliich  being  known,  he  fled  from  the  court  of  Plia- 
raoh.     Exod,\\.\\ — 14. 

6  Q.     Whither  did  he  fly  ? 

A.  To  the  land  of  Midian,  where  he  kept  the  sheep 
of  Jethro  a  priest,  or  prince  of  the  country,  and  married 
his  daughter.     Exod,  ii.  14,  and  iii.  1. 

7  Q.     How  did  God  appoint  him  to  deliver  Israel  ? 
Jl.     God  appeared  to  liim  in  a  burning  bush, as  he  was 

keeping  Jethro's  sheep,  and  sent  him  to  Pliaraoh,  to  re- 
(juire  the  release  of  Israel  his  people.     Exod.  iii.  1 — 18. 

8  (f.     What  was  his  oftice  afterwards  } 

((,    God  made  him  the  leader  arid  lawgiver  of  the 


22  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  S. 

people  of  Israel.    Exod,  xxxii.  34.     Deut,  xxxiii.  4^  5. 

John  \.  17. 

9  Q.    Who  was  Aaron  ? 

A.  He  was  brother  to  Moses,  and  he  was  sent  of  God 
to  meet  him  as  he  was  returning  to  Egypt,  and  appoint- 
ed to  assist  him  in  his  dealing  with  rharaoh  the  king. 
EocodAv.  14,  27. 

10  Q.     What  was  Aaron's  office  afterwards? 

Ji:,  He  was  made  the  first  high  priest  of  IsraeL 
JScToc?.  xxviii.  I .    J^t-fe.  V.  1,4. 

11  Q.  How  did  Moses  and  Aaron  prove  to  Pharaoh, 
and  to  the  people,  that  God'  had  sent  them  upon  this 
errand  ? 

Jl.  Thej  had  power  given  them  from  God'  himself  to 
work  several  miracles,  or  signs  and  wonders,.to  convince 
the  people  of  Israel,  as  well  as  Pharaoh,  that  thej  had  a 
commission  from  God.    Exod.  iv.  1- — 10.^ 

12  Q.     What  was  the  first  miracle  ? 

d»  Aaron  cast  down  his  rod,  and  it  became  a  serpent ; 
and  when  Pharaoh's  conjurors  did  so  too,  Aaron's  rod 
swallowed  theirs  all  up.     Exod,\\i.  9 — 12. 

13  ^.  What  did  Moses  and  Aaron-  da  further  to  de- 
liver that  people  ^ 

A.  Upon  Pharaoh's  refusal  to  let  the  people  of  Israel 
go,  thej  brought  ten  miraculous  plagues  upon  the  king, 
and  upon  all  the  land,  by  the  authority  and  power  of 
God.  Exod.  vii.  viii.  ix.  x.  xi.  and  xiv.  10,  &c.  Psalm 
cv.  26,  &c. 

14  Q,    What  were  these  ten  plagues  ? 

J.  (1.)  Water  turned  into  blood.  (2.)  Frogs.  (3.) 
Lice.  (4.)  Flies.  (5.)  Murrain  amon^  cattle.  (6.)  Boils 
and  blisters  on  man  and  beast.  (7.)  Thunder,  lightniri^ 
and  hail.  (8.)  Locusts.  (9.)  Thick  darkness.  (10.)  The 
first-born  slain.. 

15  Q.  Were  Pharaoh  and  his  people  willing  to  re- 
lease the  Israelites  at  last? 

A.  Yes ;  when  they  saw  they  were  all  like  to  be  de- 
stroyed ;  for  there  was  not  a  house  wherein  there  was 
not  one  dead :  then  they  hastened  them  out,  and  lent 
them  jewels  and  gold  to  adorn  their  sacrifices  and  wor* 
ship.    Exod.  xii..  29—36.. 


Ghap.-  3.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  23 

16  ^.  How  great  was  the  number  of  the  Israelites 
that  went  out  of  Kgjypt  ? 

»7.  Six  hundred  thousand  men,  besides  children,  and 
all  went  on  foot.    Exod.  xii.  37. 

17  Q.  Which  way  did  the  Israelites  bend  their 
journey  ? 

Jl.  Toward  the  wilderness  of  the  Red  Sea,  as  they 
were  guided  by  God  himself  marching  before  tliem  in  a 
pillar  of  cloud  by  day,  and  in  a  pillar  of  fire  by  night. 
£.vod,  xiii.  18,  21. 

18  <^.  But  did  not  Pharaoh  and  his  army  pursue 
them  after  they  were  gone  ? 

•i.  Yes  ;  they  repented  that  they  let  them  go,  and 
pursued  them  to  the  Red  Sea,  resolving  to  destroy 
them.    Exod,  xiv.  5,  and  xv.  9. 

19  Q.  How  did  the  people  of  Israel,  who  came  out 
of  Egypt,  get  over  the  Red  Sea  ? 

•9.  When  they  were  in  distress,  with  the  Red  Sea 
before  them,  and  Pharaoh^s  army  behind  them,  they  cried 
unto  God,  whereon  Moses  bid  them  stand  still,  and  see 
the  salvation  of  the  Lord.  Then,  at  the  command  of 
God,  Moses  struck  the  sea  with  his  rod,  and  divided  the 
waters  asunder,  and  the  children  of  Israel  went  through 
upon  dry  larid.     Exod.  xiv.  10,  16,  21,  29. 

20  ^.  What  became  of  the  Egyptians  that  followed 
them  ? 

•S,    God  troubled  their  array,  retarded  their  march, 
and  when  Moses  stretched  out  his  hand  over  the  sea 
again,  the  waters  returned  upon  them,  and  tliey  were 
drowned.     Exod.  xiv.  28. 
'  21  (^,     Whither  did  the  children  of  Israel  go  then  ? 

J.  They  went  wheresoever  Go<l  guided  tliem  by  the 
pillar  of  cloud,  and  the  pillar  of  fire ;  and  they  moved, 
and  they  rested,  according  to  the  rest  er  the  motion  of 
this  cloud.      Exod.  xiii.  21.     JVumfr.  x.  33,  34. 

22  ((.  How  did  the  people  of  Israel,  who  had  seen 
all  these  wonders, behave  tJiemselves  in  their  travels? 

J.  At  every  new  difficulty,  when  they  wanted  meat 
or  water,  or  met  with  enemies,  they  fell  a  munnuring 
against  God  and  Moses.    Exod.  xv.  23,  24,  ami  xvi.  2, 3. 


54  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.-         Chap.  5. 

23  Q.  How  long  was  it  before  they  came  to  the 
place  that  God  had  promised  them  ? 

,3.  They  wandered  forty  years  in  the  wilderness,  for 
their  sins.     JSTumh.  xiv.  32,  33.     See  Psalm  Ixxviii. 

24  Q.     What  did  they  eat  all  the  time  ? 

*5.  God  fed  them  with  manna,  or  bread  that  came 
down  every  night  from  heaven,  and  lay  all  round  the 
camp.    Exod.  xvi.  4,  15,  35.     DeuU  viii.  3. 

25  Q.    What  did  they  drink  in  the  wilderness  ? 

Ji.  Moses  smote  the  rock  with  his  rod,  and  water 
gushed  out  in  a  river,  which  attended  them  in  their  jour- 
nies.  Exod.  xvii.  5,  6.  1  Cor,  x.  4.  J^umh.  xx.  11« 
jyehem,  ix.  15. 

26  Q.  What  did  they  do  for  clothes  during  these 
forty  years  ? 

•i.  Their  raiment  waxed  not  old,  nor  did  their  shoes 
wear  out.    Beut  xxix,  5, 

27  Q.    Did  Moses  govern  all  this  people  himself? 

Jl,  By  his  father  in  law  Jethro's  advice,  and  by  God's 
approbation,  he  appointed  officers  and  judges  over  the 
people  for  common  cases,  but  every  harder  cause  was 
brought  to  Moses.     Exod,  xviii, 

28  Q.  You  told  me,  that  Moses  was  a  lawgiver  to 
the  Jews  or  people  of  Israel ;  pray  how  came  he  by  those 
wise  and  holy  laws  which  he  gave  them  ? 

^.  He  conversed  with  God  fourscore  days  and  nights 
in  Mount  Sinai,  and  there  he  learnt  them.  Exod.  xxiv. 
12—18.    l)eut.'i\,9y  18. 

J^ote.  The  people  of  Israel  were  not  all  called  Jews,  till  af- 
ter the  return  from  the  captivity  of  Babylon,  the  chief  part  of 
those  who  returned  being  of  the  tribe  of  Judah :  yet  in  all  later 
histories,  the  Israelites  are  so  universally  called  Jews,  that  I 
have  sometimes  used  this  name  even  in  the  earlier  part  of  their 
history. — It  is  plain,, that  Moses  was  twice  with  God  on  Mount 
Sinai,  and  that  fofty  days  each  time  ;  for  Moses  coming  down, 
and  finding  the  idolatry  of  the  golden  calf,  broke  the  tables  of 
the  law  which  God  wrote  first ;  and  God  called  him  up  thfi 
second  time,  and  wrote  the  law  on  new  tables.  See  Ezod, 
xxxiv.  1 — 5,  28. 

29  q.  What  token  was  there  that  Moses  had  been 
witli  God  ? 


.,.,,.    .  feCRlPTURE  HISTORY.  t5 

.9.  Tiie  face  of  Moses  shone  so  that  the  people  could 
net  converse  with  him,  till  he  put  a  veil  on  his  face. 
Exod.  xxxiv.  29—35. 

30  Q.  Wliat  sort  of  laws  were  those  which  Moses 
gave  tlje  Jews  ? 

J,  Moral  laws,  ceremonial  laws,  and  judicial  laws, 
and  all  by  God's  own  appointment.  Ejrod,  xxiv.  12. 
Isa,  xxxiii.  22. 

31  ^.  What  was  the  religion  of  the  Jews,  or  Israel- 
ites? 

^.  The  same  with  the  religion  of  Adam  after  his  fall ; 
of  !Noah,  and  Abraham,  in  Chap.  II.  Q.  50,  with  these 
additions  given  by  Moses. 

JVo/e.  This  is  called  the  Jewish,  or  Mosaical,  or  Leviti- 
tXL  DISPENSATION  ;  and  herein  God  may  be  considered  under 
three  characters. 

1.  As  the  Unirerml  Creator  of  all  men,  and  as  the  T^ord 
God  and  Ruler  of  the  souU  and  consciences  of  all,  and  of  the 
Jews,  as  a  part  of  mankind  :  and  under  this  cliaracter  he  re- 
ijuired  of  the  Jews  all  the  duties  of  the  light  of  na'ure,  '  rthe 
moral  law,  wliich  obliged  all  mankind  as  well  as  r  >  •••,  and 
ilifit  under  every  dispensation. 

2.  He  may  be  considered  as  the  God  of  Irroel,  or  lue  Jews, 
;is  a  church  outward  and  visible  ;  whom  he  had  sepu'-dled  from 
the  rest  of  tlie  nations  to  be  a  peculiar  people  to  himself;  and 
5  0  he  prescribed  to  them  peculiar  forms  of  worship,  and  special 
ceremonies  and  rites  6f  religion,  as  tokens  6f  their  duty  and 
his  grace. 

3.  He  may  be  considered  as  the  proper^  King  of  the  Israel- 
ites as  a  nation,  and  as  they  M'ere  his  subjects,  and  so  he  gave 
them  judicial  or  political  laws,  which  relate  to  their  govern- 
ment, and  the  common  affairs  of  the  civil  law. — Btit  these  three 
sorts  of  laws  are  not  kept  so  entirely  distinct  as  not  to  be  inter- 
mingled with  each  other.  It  is  all  indeed  but  one  body  of  laws, 
and  given  properly  to  that  one  people  iinder  different  dispensa- 
tions. And  on  this  accovnt  it  is  sometimes  hard  to  say,  under 
which  head  some  of  these  commands  of  God  must  be  reduced. 
J?orae  commands  relating  to  their  houses  and  garments,  their 
plowing  and  sowing,  and  the  prohibition  of  particular  sorts  of 
food,  are  naturally  ranked  under  their  fo/t/icoi  lares:  and  yet 
there  is  plainly  something  ceremonial  or  religious  desijmed  or 
Included  in  them,  ^gain,  that  which  we  call  the  moral  late,  or 
♦  he  ten  commands,  litor  the  most  part  the  law  of  nature,  but  it 

-  something  of  a  positive  institution,  ceremonial  or  ritual,  in 
4 


26  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  4. 

it.  This  is  very  plain  in  the  fourth  command,  of  the  seventh 
day  sabbath  :  But  in  this  catechism  it  Avas  not  proper  to  enter 
into  too  nice  inquiries  on  this  subject.  The  three  branches  of 
this  distinction  of  the  Jewish  laws  in  the  main  are  evident 
enough,  though  they  happen  to  be  intermingled  in  some  Jnstan- 


CHAP.  IV. 

Of  the  Moral  Law, 

1  Q.    "Which  was  the  moral  law  given  to  the  Jews? 

^.  All  those  commands  which  relate  to  their  beha- 
viour, considered  as  men,  and  which  lie  scattered  up  and 
down  in  the  books  of  Moses ;  but  they  are  as  it  were  re- 
duced into  a  small  compass  in  the  ten  commandments. 

£  Q.  How  were  these  ten  commands  first  given  them  ? 

^.  By  the  voice  of  God  on  Mount  Sinai,  three  months 
after  their  coming  out  of  Egypt :  and  it  was  attended 
mth  thunder,  and  fire,  and  smoke,  and  the  sound  of  a 
trumpet.    Exod,  xix.  18, 19,  and  xx.  1 — 18. 

3  Q.  Where  was  this  moral  law  more  especially 
written  ? 

w3.  In  the  two  tables  of  stone  which  God  wrote  with 
his  own  hand,  and  gave  to  Moses.  Exod.  xxiv.  12, 
chap,  xxxii.  15, 16,  and  xxxiv.  1. 

4  Q.    What  did  the  first  table  contain  ? 

w3.  Their  duty  towards  God  in  the  first  four  com- 
inandments.     See  Exod.  xx.  3 — 11.    Deut,  v.  22. 

5  Q.    What  are  these  four  first  commandments  ? 

Jl,     (1.)    Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  me. 

(2.)  Thou  shalt  not  make  to  thyself  any  graven  im- 
age, or  any  likeness  of  any  thing  that  is  in  heaven  above, 
or  that  is  in  the  earth  beneath,  or  that  is  in  the  water  un- 
der the  earth :  thou  shalt  not  bow  down  thyself  to  them, 
nor  serve  them ;  for  I  the  Lord  thy  God  am  a  jealous 
God,  visiting  the  iniquity  of  the  fathers*  upon  the  cliikl^ 
Ten,  unto  the  third  and  fourth  generation  of  them  that 
liate  me,  and  shewing  mercy  unto  thousands  of  them  tliat 
Ibve  me,  and  keep  my  commandments. 


Chap.  4.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  27 

(3.)  Thou  shalt  not  take  i\\e  name  of  the  Lord  thy 
Gotl  in  vain ;  tor  the  Lord  will  not  hold  him  guiltless 
that  taketh  liis  name  in  vain. 

(4.)  Remember  the  sabbath  day  to  keen  it  holy.  Six 
days  shalt  thou  labour,  and  do  all  thy  worK,  but  the  sev- 
iith  day  is  the  sabbatli  ot"  the  liord  thy  God :  in  it  thou 
halt  not  do  any  work,  tliou,  nor  thy  son,  nor  thy  daueh- 
|ter,  nor  thy  man  servant,  nor  thy  maid  servant,  nor  tny 
cattle,  nor  tlie  stranger  that  is  within  thy  gates  ;  for  in 
six  days  tlie  Lord  made  heaven  and  earth,  the  sea,  and 
all  that  in  them  is,  and  rested  tlie  seventh  day  :  where- 
fore the  Lord  blessed  the  sabbatli  day,  and  hallowed  it. 

C  ^.  Is  God's  resting  from  his  works  of  creation  the 
seventh  day,  tlie  only  reason  why  the  Jews  were  requir- 
ed to  keep  the  sabbath  or  day  of  rest  ? 

^.  This  latter  part  of  the  fourth  commandment, 
namely,  the  reason  of  the  sabbath,  taken  from  the  crea- 
tion, and  God's  resting  on  the  seventh  day,  is  entirely 
omitted  in  the  reliearsal  of  the  ten  commands  in  the 
fifth  ot  Deuteronomy :  and  instead  of  it  the  Jews  are  re- 
(juired  to  obseiTe  this  command  of  tlie  sabbath  or  holy 
rest,  for  another  reason,  namely,  because  they  were 
slaves  in  Kgypt,  and  God  gave  them  a  release  and  rest 
from  their  slavery.  Deut.  v.  15.  Though  it  is  possible 
l)otii  reasons  of  this  command  miglit  be  pronounced  from 
Mount  Sinai,  and  only  that  mentioned  in  Exodus  be  writ 
on  the  tables  of  stone. 

7  ^.     What  did  the  second  table  contain  ? 

•'1.  Their  duty  toward  nran  in  the  si.v  last  coromaml- 
ments.     E.vud.  w.  \2 — 17.     Deut.  \,  ^22. 

8  ({.     What  are  these  six  last  commandments  ? 

Ji,  (5.)  Honour  thy  fatlier  and  thy  mother,  that  thy 
days  may  be  long  upon  the  land  which  the  Lord  thy  GcxI 
giveth  thee. 

(Qf^     Thou  shalt  not  kill. 

uS     Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery. 

?8.)     Thou  shalt  not  steal. 

(9.)  Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness  against  thy 
neighbour. 

(10,)     Thou  shalt  not  covet  l!iy  neighbour's  house; 


58  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  5. 

thou  shalt  not  covet  thj  neighboui-*s  wife,  nor  his  man 
servant,  nor  his  maid  servant,  nor  his  ox,  nor  his  ass,  nor 
any  thing  that  is  thy  neighbour's. 

9  Q.  Were  these  ten  commands  given  to  the  Jews 
only,  or  are  they  given  to  all  mankind  ^ 

Jl,  Almost  every  thing  contained  in  these  commands 
is  taught  by  the  light  of  nature,  and  obliges  all  mankind : 
the  honour  that  is  done  them  in  the  New  Testament  in- 
iimates  this  also.  But  there  are  several  expressions  in 
these  laws  by  which  it  plainly  appears,  they  were  pecu- 
liarly appropriated  and  suited  to  the  Jewish  nation  ki 
their  awful  proclamation  at  Mount  Sinai. 

10  Q.  Wherein  does  it  appear  so  plainly  that  these 
laws,  as  given  at  Mount  Sinai,  have  a  peculiar  respect  to 
the  Jews  ? 

,  •^.  This  is  evident  in  the  preface,  where  God  enga- 
ges their  attention  and  obedience  by  telling  them,  that  m 
was  the  Lord  their  God^.who  brought  them  out  of  the 
land  of  Egypt.  This  appears  also  in  the  fourth  com- 
mand, where  the  seventh,  day  is  the  appointed  sabbatlv 
for  the  Jews  :  and  in  Deut.  v.  15,  God  gives  this  reaso?i 
for  the  sabbath,  that /ze  brought  them  out  of  Egypt  with 
a  mighty  hand.  It  is  vet  mrther  manifest  in  the  fifth 
commandment,  where  the  promise  of  long  life  in  the 
land,  literally  refers  to  the  land  of  Canaan  which  God 
»ave  to  that  people :  that  thy  days  may  be  long  in  the 
land  which  the  JLord  thy  God  giveth  thee*  Yet,  as  is 
before  intimated,  the  citation  of  them  by  the  apostles  in 
ihe  New  Testament  as  rules  of  our  duty,  doth  plainly 
enforce  the  observation  of  them  so  far  on  the  consciea- 
<'o?;  of  Christians.. 


CHAP.  V. 

Of  the  Ceremonial  Law  of  ihe  Jews. 

L   ({.     What  was  the  ceremonial  law  ? 
Ji.    All  those  commands  which  seem  to  have  some 
religious  design  in  them,  especially  such  as  related  to 


Sect.  1.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  ^ 

their  cleans! n<2;s  from  any  defilement,  and  their  peculiar 
forms  of  worship. 

Xote.  I  have  hinted  before,  that  several  of  the  political  laws, 
which  were  given  to  the  Jews  by  God  as  their  Kinsr,  have  some- 
thing ceremonial  in  them ;  and  they  were  designed  to  be 
k^mblem?,  types,  or  figures  of  some  spiritual  parts  of  religion, 
""^herc  were  also  some  parts  of  their  ceremonies  of  purification, 
and  thf  ir  rites  of  religions  worship,  which  have  a  political  as- 
pert,  and  were  prescribed  by  God  as  King  of  their  nation.  But 
I  choose  to  rank  all  their  purifying  rites,  and  their  rules  of  wor- 
.'hip,  rather  under  this  head  of  the  crrenionial  or  rtligiout  laws, 
because  their  forms  of  purification  do  more  plainly  and  eminent- 
'.V  typify  or  represent  to  us  how  much  care  the  people  of  God 
>!iould  take  to  be  separated  and  purified  from  every  sin,  and 
iVom  the  communion  of  sinners :  and  the  Jewish  rites  of  worship 
It-present  to  us,  by  way  of  type  or  emblem,  that  spiritual  and 
«vangelic  worship  which  should  be  paid  to  God,  especially  un- 
tier  the  ^evf  Testament,  as  the  Lord  of  souls  and  consciences  j 
as  well  as  those  blessings  of  the  Gospel,  which  are  brought  vat. 
by  Christ  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  are  represented  hereby* 


Sect.  I.     Of  the  Ceremonies  of  Purification^ 

2  Q.  What  were  the  chief  rites  or  ceremonies  ap- 
pointed for  purification  or  cleansing  amon^  the  Jews  ? 

*?.  Wasning  with  water,  sprinkling  \\ith  water  or 
blood,  anointing  with  holy  oil,  shaving  the  head  of  mai» 
or  woman,  togetiier  witli  various  sorts  of  sacrifices,  and 
some  other  appointments.  Heh.  ix^  10,  13,  19.  Lev,  xv* 
xvi.  and  xiii.  33.     *^'umh.  vi.  19.     E.vod.  xL  9. 

3  ^..  What  were  those  things  or  ])ersons  among  the 
Jews  which  were  required  to  be  purified  ? 

Ji,  All  persons,  houses  or  buildings,  garments,  or 
other  things,  which  were  set  apiirt  for  the  service  of  God  ; 
and  all  such  as  had  been  defiled  by  leprosy,  by  touching 
human  dead  bodies,  or  the  carcases  of  any  unclean  ani- 
mal, or  by  other  ceremonial  pollutions.  See  Lpv.  xi.  xii- 
xiii.  xiv.  and  xv.  Ea'0(1,  xl.  9 — 15.  JV)iinb.  vUi.  6.  and 
xix»  9,  &c. 

4^ 


30  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap. 


5'. 


4  ^.  How  were  the  persons  or  things  of  the  gentiles 
to  be  purified  for  the  use  of  the  Israelites  ? 

^,  The  things  whicji  could  endure  the  fire,  were  to 
pass  through  the  fire ;  other  things  were  to  be  washed 
with  water.  JSTumh,  xxxi.  20 — 24.  And  the  maidens 
were  to  have  their  heads  shaven*  and  their  nails  pared, 
before  an  Israelite  could  take  any  of  them  for  a  wife. 
Deut.  xxi,  12. 

5  Q.  Were  there  not  some  things  which  could  not 
be  purified  at  all  by  any  ceremonies  ? 

A,  All  the  several  nations  of  Canaanites,  and  the 
males  among  other  gentile  captives  in  war,  who  had  re- 
fused the  offer  of  peace,  were  judged  so  unclean  and 
polluted,  that  they  were  all  to  be  destroyed.  Deut.  vii. 
1—4.  Josh.  \-i.  21,  vii.  26,  and  x.  28,  30,  32,  40,  &c. 
Deut.  XX.  13 — 17.  And  the  houses  and  garments  of  the 
Israelites,  where  the  leprous  spots  could  not  be  taken 
away,  were  to  be  destroyed  also.  Lev,  xiii.  57,  and  ch. 
xiv.  45,  and  those  Israelites  in  whom  the  leprosy  prevail- 
ed, were  to  be  shut  out  of  the  camp  as  unclean.  Lev. 
xiii.  45,  46. 

6  Q.  Were  there  any  crimes  of  real  immorality  or 
impiety  which  could  be  taken  away  by  any  of  these  out- 
ward ceremonies  of  purification  ? 

•4.  The  mere  outward  performance  of  any  of  these 
ceremonies  did  purify  the  persons  defiled  no  further, 
than  to  set  them  right  in  their  political  state,  as  subjects 
under  God  as  their  King ;  and  to  cleanse  them,  as  mem- 
bers of  the  Jewish  visible  church,  fix)m  ceremonial  defile- 
ment. Heb.  ix.  13.  The  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats, 
and  the  ashes  of  an  heifer^  sprinkling  the  unclean,  sanc' 
tifieth  no  further  than  to  the  purifying  of  the  flesh. 
But  Heb,  10.  4.  It  is  not  possible  that  the  blood  of  bulls 
and  goats  should  take  away  sins ;  that  is,  as  they  are 
committed  against  God  as  the  Lord  of  their  souls  and 
consciences. 

7  Q.  How  then  were  the  sins  of  the  Jews  cleansed 
or  pardoned,  I  mean  their  real  immoralities  and  impie- 
ties against  God,  as  the  Lord  of  conscience  ? 

A.     They  obtained  pardon  of  God  at^cording  to  th'e 


Sect  I.  SCUIPTUUE  HISTORY.  31 

discovery  of  grace  and  forgiveness  scattered  up  and 
down  through  all  tlie  five  books  of  Moses,  and  especially 
according  to  the  promises  made,  and  tlie  encouragements 
given  to  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  and  in  general  to 
all  those  who  sincerely  repent  of  sin,  ami  trust  in  the 
mercy  of  God,  so  far  as  it  was  then  i-evealed,  and  to  bt^ 
further  revealed  in  tinje  to  come.  Exod.  xxxiv.  G,  7. 
Deut.  Iv.  ^9 — 31.  Isa.  Iv.  7,  &c.  But  this  forgiveness 
is  owing  to  the  effectual  atonement  of  Christ,  which  was 
to  be  made  in  due  time,  and  which  took  away  sins  past 
as  well  as  to  come.     Bom.  iii.  21,  24,  25,  26. 

8  ({.  Did  these  outward  rites  of  purification  then 
do  nothing  towards  the  removal  of  their  moral  defile- 
ments or  sins  ? 

J,  As  their  outward  or  ceremonial  defilements  were 
appointed  to  be  emblems  and  figures  of  the  spiritual  or 
moral  defilement  of  the  soul  by  sin,  so  many  of  these 
ceremonies  of  purification,  and  particularly  tiiose  bv  wa- 
ter and  blootl,  were  pledges  and  tokens  to  assure  them 
that  God  would  forgive  sin ;  and  they  were  also  figures 
and  emblems  of  the  removal  of  moral  defilement  or 
sin  from  the  souls  of  men  by  the  atoning  blood  of  Christ, 
and  by  the  sanctifying  spirit  of  God,  whicli  is  represent- 
ed under  the  figure  of  clean  water.    See  Heb^  ix.  and  x. 

J\'ole.  The  following  question  perhaps  might  come  in  pro- 
perly after  the  account  of  sacrtjices  :  But  having  here  inquired 
whether  the  ceremonies  of  purification  did  any  thing  txjward 
the  removal  of  the  moral  defilement  of  sin,  I  thought  it  as 
proper  to  introduce  it  here,  ixa  a  kind  of  objection  against  tb'' 
fbregoing  answers. 

9  ^.  But  were  there  not  some  Jewish  sacrifices  and 
methods  of  purification  and  atonement,  appointed  for 
some  real  immoralities  and  wickedness,  as  when  a  man 
had  committed  a  trespass  against  the  Lord,  by  lying  to 
his  neighbour,  by  cheating  or  rf)bbing  him,  or  by  swearing 
falsely,  when  he  had  found  any  thing  tliat  was  lost,  and 
withheld  it  from  the  owner?  Lew  vi.  1 — 7.  Is  it  not 
said,  He  shall  brin^  his  trespass  offering  to  the  Lord, 
and  the  priest  shall  make  an  atonement  for  him  before 
the  Lord,  and  it  shall  be  forgiven  him? 


S2  SCRIPTURE   HISTORY.         Chap.  5. 

J,  This  trespass  offering  would  set  him  right  in- 
deed in  the  sight  of  God,  as  King  of  the  nation  against 
whose  political  laws  the  man  had  committed  this  tres- 
pass ;  but  it  never  was  designed  to  free  him  from  the 
guilt  of  his  sin  in  the  sight  of  God  as  the  liOrd  ot  con- 
science, unless  lie  repented  of  this  sin  in  his  heart,  and 
trusted  in  the  mercy  of  God  so  far  as  it  was  revealed  in 
tliat  day ;  for  it  is  a  certain  truth,  that  the  blood  of  bedsts 
cannot  talce  away  sin,    Heb,  x.  4. 


Sect.  II.     Of  the  Iloli/  Persons. 

10  Q.  Having  finished  the  rites  of  purification,  let 
us  inquire  now  what  were  the  most  renuarkable  things 
relating  to  tlieir  forms  of  public  worship? 

Jl.  These  five,  namely,  holy  persons,  and  holy  jjlacet-', 
holy  things,  holy  times,  and  holy  actions. 

1 1  Q.     What  mean  you  by  calling  all  these  holy  ? 
Ji.    I  mean  such  persons^such  places,  such  things,  and 

such  times  and  actions^  as  were  devoted  to  God  and  his 
worship,  or  appointed  for  his  special  service.  JS'umb. 
xvi.  5.    Lev.  xxi.  8,  and  xxii.  15. 

12  Q.  Who  might  be  called  the  holy  persons  among 
the  Jews  or  Israelites  ? 

A,  The  priests  and  the  Nazarites,  and  all  the  Levites* 
Lev.  xxi.  1,  6.  JK^umb.  vi.  2,.  8,  and  viii.  14,  though 
sometimes  the  whole  nation  are  called  holy.  Exod. 
xix.  6. 

13  Q.     Who  were  appointed  to  be  priests  9 

Jl^  First  Aaron  himself,  and  then  the  eldest  of  Aaron's 
family  were  appointed  to  be  high  priests  in  succession  ; 
and  the  rest  of  his  sons  and  their  posterity  were  the 
priests,  provided  they  had  no  blemish  in  their  bodies. 
Lev.  xvi.  32,  and  xxi.  17.  Exod.  xxix.  30.  JSTumb.  iii.. 
3,  4,  10,  32,  chap.  iv.  1 6,  c/ia|7.  xvi.  40,  and  xx.  ^5,  26. 

14  Q.    How  were  they  made  priests  ? 

Ji,  They  were  solemnly  separated  at  first  to  the 
priest's  office  by  anointings,  and  purifications,  and  sacri- 
fices..   Lev.  viii. 


Sect.  2.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  3S 

1 5  Q-    What  was  tlie  business  of  the  priests  ? 

Ji.  Their  chief  business  was  to  orter  sacrifices  to  the 
Lord,  to  burn  incense  before  hiin  in  the  holy  place,  to 
kindle  the  lamps,  to  do  the  higher  services  of  the  sanc- 
tuary, and  to  instruct  the  people.  Leu.  i.  5,  7,  8,  and  ii. 
2.     A'««6.  xvi.  40.     Exod.  xxx.  7. 

16  ^.     What  was  the  office  of  the  high  priest  ?' 

»'i.  He  was  appointed  to  come  nearer  to  God,  even 
TO  enter  into  the  most  holy  place,  to  do  special  services 
on  the  yearly  day  of  atonement,  to  oversee  all  the  pub- 
lic worship,  and  to  judge  among  them,  in  many  civil 
matters  as  well  as  religious.  Acts,  xxiii.  4,  5.  Isev.  xvi. 
».VumL  iii.  4,  6.     Dent.  xvii. 

17  ((.  Was  there  any  work  which  tl»e  priests  per- 
formed in  common  with  the  high  priest? 

A.  All  the  priests  were  to  teach  the  people  their  du- 
ty, to  assist  in  judging  of  civil  and  religious  matters, 
and  bless  the  people  in  the  name  of  the  Loixl.  Deut,  xvii. 
8 — 13,  and  xxi.  5.    JVumh.  vi.  23.    MaL  ii.  7. 

Xole.  The  priests  were  appointed  to  give  the  sense  of  the 
law  in  civil  as  well  as  religious  concerns,  because  the  same  God 
who  was  the  object  of  their  worship  was  also  King  .of  their,  na- 
tion. 

18  Q,     ^^'ho  were  the  A\izaritPA.^ 

A,  \len  or  women  of  any  tril)e  who  separated  or  de- 
voted themselves  to  the  Lord  for  a  time  by  a  particular 
vow.     A'limh.  vi. 

19  ^.  What  were  the  ndeS  of  aNazaiite's  vow  oi 
snpaitilioii  r 

A»  He  was  to  drink  no  wine  nor  strong  liquor,  to 
•  ouie  at  no  dead  body,  nor  to  suffer  any  razor  to  come 
upon  liis  head,  but  let  liis  hair  giow  all  the  time, unless 
he  fell  under  some  ceremonial  defilement.  •Wimb.y'i. 
>,  n.  9,  «cc. 

20  ({.     How  was  his  vow  to  be  finished  or  ended  ? 

A,  Hy  shaving  his  head  at  the  door  of  the  tal>ernaclp, 
offering  a  sacrilice,  and  buriiini:  iiis  iiair  in  the  fire  of  it. 
,yuiiib.\l  13,  18. 

?1   f{.     AVho  were  the  Lei'lte.<  / 


^4  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  5. 

^.  All  the  tribe  or  family  of  Levi,  for  they  were  ta- 
ken into  the  service  of  God,  instead  of  the  first-born  of 
all  the  tribes  of  Israel,  w^hom  God  claimed  as  his  own. 
jyumb.  iii.  40,  and  viii.  13 — 19. 

22  Q.  Why  did  God  claim  all  the  first-born  of 
Israel ? 

*/3.  Because  lie  saved  them  from  the  destroying  an- 
gel, when  he  smote  all  the  first-born  of  Egypt.  JSTunib* 
viii.  14—18. 

23  Q.     What  was  the  business  of  the  Levites  ? 

•5.  To  wait  on  the  priests  in  their  office,  and  to  do 
the  lower  services  of  the  sanctuary  or  holy  place.  JSTumb, 
viii.  19,  and  iii.  4,  6. 

24  Q.  How  were  the  Levites  separated  to  the  service 
of  the  sanctuary  ? 

•^.  By  sprinkling  water  of  purification  on  them, 
shaving  their  flesh,  washing  their  garments,  and  the  peo- 
ple laying  their  hands  on  them,  as  well  as  by  several 
sacrifices.     J\''iimb»  vi.  6 — 16. 


Sect.  III.     Of  the  Holy  Places,  particidarhj  the 
Tabernacle. 

25  Q.  Next  to  the  holy  persons  let  us  inquire  what, 
were  the  holy  places  ? 

Ji.  The  tabernacle  in  the  days  of  Moses,  and  the 
temple  in  the  days  of  Solomon,  each  of  which  is  some- 
times called  the  sanctuary,  JExod,  xxv.  8.  1  Chron. 
xxii.  19. 

26  Q.     What  was  the  tabernacle  ? 

*.^.  It  was  a  sort  of  moveable  building,  made  of  pil- 
lars and  boards,  set  in  sockets  of  silver,  and  fine  linen 
curtains  embroidered  with  cherubs,  and  coupled  witli 
loops  and  tacks  of  gold,  that  the  whole  might  be  taken 
to  pieces,  and  carried  with  them  in  their  journies.  See 
Exod,  xxvi. 

JVote.  When  Moses  had  received  Adl  orders  for  making  thi^ 
fabernacle,  he   canie  down  from  Mount  Sinai  and  found  the 


«ect.3.  SCRlPTUttE  tttSTORV.  55 

pie  had  been  guilty  of  idolatry,  in  making  a  golden  calf: 
Kitn  it  is  said,  Ht  took  the  tabernacle^  arid  pitched  it  icithout 
tke  camp^  and  afar  from  the  camp^  and  calltd  it  the  Tabernacle 
of  the  Congregation  :  and  every  one  that  sought  the  Lord  uent 
out  to  this  tabernacU.  This  is  supposed  to  be  a  little  occasional 
tabernacle,  made  like  a  small  chapel  for  present  worship ;  for 
God  resided  there  at  the  door  of  it  in  a  cloudy  pillar;  and  Mo- 
ses went  into  tljis  tabernacle  and  talked  with  God  there.  Exod. 
xxxiii.  6,  7,  &c.  But  when  the  great  tabernacle  was  finished, 
according  to  God^s  appointment,  it  stood  not  without  the  camp, 
as  appears  in  the  following  question. 

27  ^.  Wliere  did  the  tabernacle  stand  when  it  was 
reared  up  ? 

Ji.  It  stood  within  a  large  space  of  ground  which 
was  called  the  court  of  the  tabernacle,  one  hundred  cu- 
bits long,  and  fifty  cubits  broad.  E.vod.  xxvii.  9 — 1 8. 
and  all  the  tribes  pitched  their  tents  round  about  it. 
JVumb.  ii. 

28  ^.  How  was  the  court  of  the  tabernacle  en- 
closed ? 

^.  It  was  enclosed  by  a  row  of  pillars  on  each  side, 
with  curtains  reaching  from  pillar  to  pillar.  Exod,  xxvii. 
9—18,  and  xl.  33. 

29  Q.     How  was  the  tabernacle  covered  ? 

^.  With  four  vails  or  curtains;  one  of  fine  linen, 
one  of  goats  hair ;  the  third  was  made  of  the  skins  of 
rams  dyed  red,  and  the  fourth  or  outermost  of  badger 
skins  to  endure  the  weather.     E.vod.  xxvi.  1 — 14. 

30  Q,     Into  what  rooms  was  the  tabernacle  divided  ? 
A.     Into  the  holy  place,  where  the  priests  entered  to 

minister  daily,  and  the  most  holy  place,  where  none  but 
tlie  high  priest  entered,  and  that  but  once  a  year.  Heb, 
ix.  6,  7. 

31  ^.  How  was  the  holy  {^ace  divided  from  the 
most  holy  ? 

.'?.  By  a  curtain  or  vail  of  fine  linen  of  various 
colours  embroidered  with  cherubs,  and  hung  on  four 
pillars  overlai<l  with  gold.     E.vod.  xxvi.  31,  32,  34. 

32  Q.     What  was  the  temple  ? 

A.  A  most  j^lorious  building  of  stone  and  timber, 
raiset!  near  fivcliundred  years  afterward  by  king  Solo- 


S6  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  5, 

iwon,  instead  of  this  moveable  tabernacle.  1  Chro^u 
xvii.  5, 11,  12.     1  Kings,  vi.  1,  2. 

33  Q.  But  besides  these  holy  places,  (namely,  the 
tabernacle  and  the  temple)  was  not  Jenisalem  called  the 
holy  city  ? 

Ji.  Yes ;  because  God  appointed  the  tabernacle  in 
David's  time  to  be  removed  to  Mount  Zion,  and  because 
the  temple  was  built  by  Solomon  on  Mount  Moriah, 
both  which  are  included  within  the  city  of  Jerusalem. 
J^eh,  xi.  1.    2  Chron.  iii.  1,  and  1  Kings,  viii.  1. 


Sect.  IV.     Of  the  Holy  Things,  namely.  Mars, 
Garments,  Sacrifices,  Sfc. 

34  Q.    What  were  the  holy  things  ? 

xjJ.  There  was  a  great  number  of  holy  things  made  of 
gold  and  silver,  brass  and  wood,  and  fine  linen,  and  oth- 
er materials,  both  dry  and  liquid,  which  were  used  in 
the  Jewish  worship. 

35  Q.  What  were  the  chief  or  most  considerable  of 
these  holy  things  ? 

*i.  The  ark  of  the  covenant,  and  the  mercy-seat,  the 
ftltar  of  incense,  the  table  and  the  candlestick,  the  altar 
of  burnt-offering,  and  the  laver,  the  priests'  garments, 
the  sacrifices,  the  purifying  water,  the  noly  oil  and  holy 
perfume,  together  with  vessels  or  instruments  relating  to 
all  or  any  of  these.    Exod,  xxxi.  7 — 11. 

36  Q.     What  was  the  ark  ? 

A.  It  was  2L  cli«st  or  coffer  made  of  wood,  and  over- 
laid with  gold,  wherein  the  two  tables  of  the  law  were 
kept,  of  God's  own  writing,  with  seme  other  precious 
things,  which  were  afterward  laid  up  there.  Eocod,  xxv. 
10—16.    Deut.  X.  1—5.     Heb,  ix.  4,  5. 

Note.  The  rod  oT  Aaron,  which  blossomed  and  brought  forth 
almonds,  and  the  pot  of  manna,  which  the  Israelites  lived  upon 
in  the  wilderness,  were  both  laid  up  in  the  ark  for  a  perpetual 
memorial  of  tliose  miraculous  events.  Exod.  xvi.  33,  34. 
Kumb.  xvii.  10.  Heb.  ix.  4.  Though  some  learned  men  rather 
suppose  these  were  only  placed  before  tlie  ark,  and  not  in  it. 


,ct.  4.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  37 

.'57  Q.     What  was  the  mercy-seat  ? 

A.  It  M'as  the  covering  of  the  ark,  and  it  was  made  of 
pure  gold,  with  a  chenib  of  goUl  at  each  end  of  it,  with 
their  wings  stretched  out  to  cover  the  mercy-seat,  and 
their  faces  towards  eacli  other,  and  toward  the  mercy- 
-eat  also.     Exod.  xv.  17 — 21. 

JVo/c.  A  cherub  is  ii«ed  in  Scripture  to  denote  some  angelic 
power  under  the  figure  of  some  stmnge  animal.  It  is  described 
always  like  a  living  creature  with  wings,  and  probably  with  clo- 
ven feet  too  ;  but  whether  it  be  rather  in  the  shape  of  an  ox, 
or  of  a  man,  the  learned  are  not  agreed.  Perhaps  it  was  some- 
limes  nearer  to  the  one  form,  and  sometimes  to  the  other. 

38  Q.  Why  was  the  covcrino;  of  the.  ark  called  the 
mercy-€eat  ?  ^  ^ 

J.  Because  God  dwelt  on  it  as  the  God  of  Israel, 
between  the  cherubs,  in  a  body  of  light  or  a  bright  cloud, 
and  appeared  there  as  a  God  of  mercy,  accepting  their 
sacrifices  and  their  prayers.  Exod.  xxv.  22.  Lev,  xvi. 
2.  JVm«i6.  vii,  19.  Fsai,  Ixxx.  1.  This  light  was  called 
by  the  Jews  the  Shechinah^  or  the  habitation  of  God,  and 
sometimes  the  Glory.    Rom.  ix,  4. 

39  4J.  Where  were  the  ark  and  the  mercy-seat  plac- 
ed? 

•f .  In  the  holy  of  holies  within  the  vail.  Exod.  xxvi. 
35,  34. 

40  Q.     What  was  the  altar  of  incense  ? 

Ji.  An  altar  made  of  wood,  covered  with  gold,  with 
a  crown  or  ledge  of  gold  round  about  it     Exod.  xxx. 

41  O.     What  was  done  here  ? 

A.  Incense  or  perfiime  or  sweet  spices  was  burnt  and 
offered  upon  it  every  morning  and  evening.  Exod.  xxx. 
7,8. 

42  Q.     What  was  the  table  ? 

J.  The  table  was  made  of  wood,  covered  with  gold, 
and  had  a  golden  crown  or  ledge  round  it,  with  golden 
dishes  and  spoons.     Exod.  xxv.  23—30. 

43  Q.     What  was  put  on  this  table? 

d.    Twelve  cakes  of  bread  were  set  there  fresh  every 
sabbath,  and  it  was  called  shew-bread.    Lev,  xxiv,  5. 
5 


S8  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.         Chap.  5. 

44  Q.     What  was  the  candlestick  ? 

d.  It  was  made  of  pure  gold,  like  a  pillar  or  shaft, 
with  three  branches  on  each  side,  and  thus  it  would  hold 
fjne  lamp  on  the  top,  and  six  lamps  on  the  branches. 
Exod,x^v,  31. 

45  ^.    When  were  these  lamps  dressed  ? 

•5.  Every  morning  and  every  evening  they  were 
dressed  and  supplied  with  pure  oil,  to  burn  always  before 
the  Lord.    Exod.  xxviii.  20,  and  xxx.  7,  8. 

46  Q.  Where  were  the  altar  of  incense,  the  table  of 
shew-bi^ead,  and  the  candlestick  placed  ? 

•A,    In  the  holy  place. 

47  Q.     What  was  the  altar  of  hurnt-offering  ? 

A.  It  was  made  of  wood,  and  overlaid  with  brass, 
with  sho^iefe  and  fire-pans,  and  basons  and  other  vessels 
l>elonging  to  it.     Exod.  xxvii.  1 — 5. 

48  Q.     What  was  the  use  of  it  ? 

A,  AH  the  burnt-offerings  and  sacrifices  were  oflTered 
upon  it.     £^oc?.  xxxviii.  1. 

49  Q.     What  was  one  of  the  chief  glories  of  it  ? 

A.  That  the  first  sacrifice  that  was  offered  upon  it, 
was  burnt  by  fire  from  heaven,  and  that  fire  was  always 
kept  burning  there  for  holy  uses.  Lev.  ix.  24,  and  vi.  13. 

50  Q.     What  was  the  tnver  ? 

A,  A  vast  vessel  of  brass  containing  a  large  quantity 
61  water.    Exod.  xxx.  1 8—2 1 . 

51  Q.     What  was  the  design  of  it  ? 

^.  For  the  priests  to  wash  their  hands  and  their  feet, 
when  they  went  to  do  service  in  the  tabernacle.  Exod. 
xxx.  18—21. 

52  ^.  Where  did  the  altar  of  burnt-offering  and  the 
laver  stand  ? 

A,  In  the  court  of  the  tabernacle,  under  the  open  sky. 
Exod.  xl.  29,  30. 

53  Q.  Having  seen  the  holv  things  that  belonged  to 
the  tabernacle,  let  us  now  inquire  what  were  the  priests' 
holy  garments  ? 

Ji,  The  common  priests^had  a  vest  called  an  ephod, 
and  some  peculiar  garments  of  fine  linen  appointed  them 
when  they  ministered  in  the  tabernacle;  but  the  gar- 
ments of  the  high  priest  were  very  peculiar,  and  exceed- 


55  q, 
Ji,   It 


Sect  4.  SCRIPTURE  HISTOftV    ^  S9 

ing  rich  and  glorious.  1  <Sfam.xxii.  18.  j^f^wf^^tixxix.  1, 
27,41.  .  \.*       ' 

54  q.    What  were  the  high  priest's  chief  garments  ? 

^.  These  six  or  seven,  namely,  the  ephod,  with  the 
breast-plate  and  girdle  of  curious  work,  trie  robe  of  the 
ephod,  the  embroidered  linen  coat^  and  the  mitie,  with  a 
golden  plate.     Earod,  xxviii.  4. 

JVote  here.  The  common  priests  had  such  a  linen  coat  and 
orirdle,  but  not  embroidered,  and  such  a  mitre  of  linen,  but 
*"  ithout  a  golden  plate.     Exod.  xxviii.  40. 

What  was  the  ephod? 

was  a  sort  of  short  vest  without  sleeves,  to  be 
worn  above  all  the  other  garments ;  it  was  made  of  fine 
linen,  with  blue,  purple,,  and  scarlet,  interwoven  with 
plates  and  wires  of  gold,    Exod.  xxxix.  2,  3. 

5Q>  q.     What  was  the  hrenst-plate  ? 

Ji.  It  was  made  of  the  same  work  as  the  ephod ;  of 
a  span  square,  with  twelve  jewels  set  in  gold,  ranked  in 
four  rows  and  fastened  to  the  ephod.  Exod.  xxxix.  8> 
9,  10. 

57  Q.    What  was  engraven  on  these  jewels  ? 

Ji.  The  twelve  names  of  the  children  of  Israel,  that  the 
high  priest  might  bear  them  on  his  breast,  as  a  memorial 
before  the  Lord.     Exod.  xxviii.  32,  and  xxxix.  14. 

58  q.  What  was  the  Urim  and  Thummim  on  the 
breast-plate  ? 

^i.  It  was  something  whereby  the  mind  and  will  of 
God  were  made  known  to  the  high  priest,  when  he  in- 
quired incases  of  difficulty.  £.Torf. xxviii.  30.  JVumb. 
\xvii.  31. 

A*o/e  here,  on  this  ephod  was  tije  Urim  and  Thummim  in  tlie 
brea&t  plate,  which  are  j^ometimcs  called  the  oracle^  because  the 
high-priest  by  consulting  this  in  any  inquiry  of  importance 
found  the  mind  of  God,  and  told  it  to  tlie  inquirer.  But  we 
know  not  what  this  Urim  and  Thurnmini  were,  or  by  what  signs 
or  tokens,  or  in  what  manner  the  mind  of  God  was  made 
known,  on  or  by  this  breast-plate  to  the  priest,  whetlier  the  an- 
swer was  given  by  a  particular  lustre  on  such  letters  on  the 
breast-plate  as  spelled  out  distinct  words,  or  whether  by  a  voice 
from  the  ephod,  or  from  the  mercy-«eat,  is  not  hitherto  agreed 
by  the  learned,  and  their  conjectures  about  it  are  very  various 
and  uncertain. 


40  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  5, 

59  Q.     What  was  the  girdle  of  the  ephod  ? 

*9,  A  curious  linen  girdle  of  embroidered  work,  to 
bind  the  ephod  with  other  garments  close  to  the  body, 
Kxod.  xxviii.  8,  and  some  suppose  it  to  have  been  fasten- 
ed to  the  ephod. 

60  Q.     What  was  the  rohe  of  the  ephod  ? 

A.  it  Avas  an  upper  garment  woven  all  of  blue,  with 
wrought  pomegranates,  and  golden  bells  hanging  on  the 
liem,  to  make  a  sound  when  the  high  priest  went  into 
the  holy  place.     Exod.  xxxix.  31,  So,  &c. 

61  $.    What  was  the  co«i:^ 

•4.  An  under  garment,  closer  to  the  body,  made  T)f 
linen,  and  finely  embroidered.     Eocod.  xxviii.  4,  59. 

62  Q.     What  was  the  mitre  ? 

Jl.  It  was  a  cap  of  fine  linen,  with  a  plate  of  pure 
gold  fastened  on  the  fore  part  of  it  with  a  lace  of  blue. 
Exod.  xxviii.  xxxvi.  and  xxxix.  28,  SO. 

63  ({.     What  was  engraved  on  this  plate  ? 

Ji.  Holiness  to  the  Lord,  because  Aaron  w\is  to 
bear  the  iniquity  of  tlieir  holy  things,  that  they  might  be 
accepted  before  the  Lord.  Exod.  xxviii.  3fc — 38,  and 
xxxix.  28,30,  31. 

64  (^.  Thus  much  for  the  holy  garments :  now  let 
ns  hear  what  are  the  sacrifices  that  were  appointed, 
which  are  also  numbered  among  the  holy  tilings  ? 

•3.  All  sacrifices  were  offerings  made  to  God  :  some 
were  of  corn,  or  wine,  or  oil ;  and  others  were  ofFerinp 
of  living  creatures,  birds  or  beasts,  which  were  generci4ly 
td  be  slain :  But  all  sacrifices  must  be  perfect  in  their 
kind,  and  without  a  blemish.     Lev.  xxii.  1 9,  20. 

JVo/e.  There  is  one  single  exception  to  this  rule,  Lev.  xxii. 
23,  where  a  bnllock  or  a  lamb,  which  had  no  other  blemish  but 
some  small  natural  imperfection  or  superfluity,  might  be  offered 
in  the  case  of  a  mere  free-uill  offering^  but  in  no  other  cases. 
The  current  language  of  Scripture  seems  every  where  else  so 
plainly  to  require  sacrifices  without  a  blemish,  that  some  com- 
mentators think  this  text  must  be  explained  some  other  way. 

63  Q.    Where  were  these  sacrifices  to  be  offered  ? 
Jl,    In  no  other  place  but  at  tiie  door  of  the  taberna- 
cle, or  the  temple.    Lev.  xvii.  8,  9.    Deut.  xii.  13. 


Sect  4.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  41 

66  ^.  But  do  we  not  read  of  Gideon  and  Samuel, 
and  David,  and  Elijah,  building  altars,  and  offering  sa- 
crifices in  other  places  ? 

^.  This  was  not  lawful  to  be  done  but  by  prophets 
and  inspired  men,  or  at  God's  express  command. 

67  ^.     How  were  the  sacrifices  ofll'ered  to  God  ? 

^.  In  some  sacrifices  the  whole  was  burnt  on  the  al- 
tar ;  in  others,  a  part  was  burnt,  and  otlier  parts  were 
given  to  the  priests  for  their  subsistence  :  And  in  some 
sacrifices  the  person  who  offered  them  was  allowed  to 
partake  also.     See  the  seven  first  chapters  of  Leviticus, 

68  ^.  What  was  done  witii  the  blood  of  the  living 
creatures  that  were  sacnficed  r 

Ji.  The  blood  was  never  to  be  eaten,  but  to  be  pour- 
ed out  or  sprinkled,  according  to  God's  appointment; 
for  the  bloo<l  is  the  soul  or  liie  of  the  beast,  and  it  is 
blood  that  maketh  atonement  for  the  soul  or  life  of  man. 
See  Lev.  xvii. 

69  Q.  What  was  the  design  of  sacrifices  of  corn, 
wine,  and  oil  r 

JL  These  were  called  meat-offerings  and  drink-of- 
fer ings,  and  they  were  appointea  chiefly  to  give  thanks 
to  God  for  mercies  received. 

70  ((.  What  was  the  design  of  killing  and  burning 
living  creatures  in  sacrifices  ? 

J.  Some  might  be  designed  perhaps  by  way  of  tlianks- 
giving,  but  most  of  them  were  to  make  atonement  for 
sins  or  trespasses  against  the  law  of  the  Jews,  or  to  pu- 
rify the  unclean  from  some  ceremonial  defilement.  Jieb, 
ix.  7,  13,  22. 

71  Q.  How  could  the  killing  and  burning  of  living 
creatures  make  atonement  for  sin  ? 

JL  It  is  not  possible  (as  St.  Paul  assures  us)  that 
the  blood  of  bulls  and  goats  should  really  take  away  sins 
committed  against  God,  as  the  Lord  of  conscience : 
but  when  a  man  among  the  Jews  had  offendetl  God,  con- 
sidered as  a  King  of  the  nation,  by  some  civil  tiespass 
against  the  laws  of  the  land,  God  was  pleased  to  accept 
of  tlie  suft'ering  or  death  of  the  beast,  instead  of  the 
death  or  suffering  of  the  man  ;  or  if  a  person  fell  into 
5* 


42  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  o. 

* 

some  ceremonial  defilement,  he  was  to  be  purified  by 
the  blood  of  a  beast :  and  this  was  an  emblem,  or  type 
and  token  that  the  sin  of  man  deserved  death,  and  that 
God,  considered  as  the  Lord  of  conscience,  would  for- 
give sin,  and  would  accept  of  the  sufierinf^s  and  death  of 
his  Son  in  due  time,  as  a  real  sacrifice  of  atonement,  in 
the  room  of  the  sinner.  See  Heb.  ix.  and  x.  1  Pet.  i. 
19,  and  ii.  24.     See  Quest.  6,  7,  8,  of  this  chapter. 

72  Q.     With  what  fire  were  the  sacrifices  burnt  ? 
•^.     With  fire  which  came  down  at  first  from  heaven 

on  the  altar,  and  it  was  kept  always  burning  on  the  altar 
for  sacred  uses,  that  is,  to  light  the  lamps,  to  burn  in- 
cense and  to  kindle  other  fires  in  their  worship.  Lev, 
ix.  24,  and  vi.  1 3. 

73  Q.  Who  were  those  persons  that  dared  to  use 
other  fire  in  worship  than  what  God  had  appointed  ? 

.5.  Nadab  and  Abihu,  the  sons  of  Aaron,  burnt  in* 
cense  with  strange  fire.    Lev.  x. 

74  Q.     What  was  their  punishment  ? 

w3.  There  went  out  a  fire  from  the  Lord  and  de- 
voured them.     JLev.x.  1,  2.  '    " 

75  Q.  When  were  these  various  sacrifices  top^'be 
offered  ? 

d.  Daily,^ weekly,  monthly,  and  yearly,  and  on  m'^ny 
special  occasions,  as  God  revealed  to  Moses.  '"^^♦^ 

76  Q.    What  was  the  daily  sacrifice  ? 

A,  A  young  lamb  every  morning  and  every  evening 
for  a  burnt-oflfering,  together  with  a  meat-oftering  and 
drink-offering.     tA^'wrnft.  xxvii.  3,  &c. 

77  Q.    What  was  the  design  of  it  ? 

Ji,  To  keep  the  people  in  remembrance  that  for  their 
daily  sins  they  neetled  continual  atonement  and  pardon* 
and  that  God  required  continual  thanksgiving  for  his 
xlaily  mercies. 

78  Q.  What  were  the  weekly,  monthly,  and  yearly 
sacrifices  ? 

A.  Such  as  were  required  on  the  several  holy  times j 
or  the  festivals  and  fasts  which  God  appointed. 

79  ^.  What  was  the  special  sacrifice  which  was 
offered  to  make  the  purifying  water,  called  th.^  water  of 
separation? 


Sect.  4,  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  4S 

J,  A  red  heifer  was  to  be  slain  and  burnt  v\ithout 
the  camp,  with  her  skin,  flesh,  and  blood,  with  cedar- 
wood,  hyssop  and  scarlet:  and  all  the  ashes  were  to  be 
gathered  and  laid  up  in  a  clean  place  without  the  camp. 
t^^iimb.  xix. 

80  Q.     How  was  the  water  of  separation  to  be  made  r 
Ji,    Some  of  the  ashes  of  the  burnt  heifer  were  to  be 

put  in  a  vessel,  and  tot)e  mingled  with  running  water. 
.Vumb.  xix.  IT. 

81  Q.     What  was  the  use  of  it  ? 

•4.  To  purify  persons,  or  things,  or  places,  which 
were  defiled  by  touching  a  human  dead  body,  or  the 
bones  of  a  man,  or  a  grave,    ver,  11 — 16. 

82  ({.  How  must  it  be  applied  to  the  defiled  thing 
or  person  in  order  to  cleanse  them  ? 

A.  Some  clean  person  must  take  hyssop  and  dip  it 
in  water,  and  sprinkle  it  upon  the  tent,  and  upon  the 
persons  and  vessels  that  were  unclean,  ver.  18.  Fsalm 
11.  r.     Ihb.  ix.  IS. 

S3  Q.  After  the  water  of  purification,  tell  me  now 
what  was  the  hoi  if  anointing  oil  '/ 

Ji.  It  was  a  kind  of  liquid  ointment,  compounded  of 
myrrh,  cinnamon,  and  other  rich  spices,  with  oil-olive, 
by  the  art  of  the  apothecary ;  and  there  was  none  to  be 
made  like  it  on  pain  of  death.    Exod.  xxx.  23 — 33. 

84  Q.     What  was  the  use  of  this  holy  oil  f 

.//.  All  the  vessels  of  the  tabernacle  were  to  be 
anointed  with  it,  as  well  as  Aaron  tlie  high  priest,  and 
his  sons.     Exod.  xxx.  26. 

85  Q.     What  was  the  incense  or  holy  perfume  ? 

A.  It  was  a  composition  of  sweet  spices  with  frank- 
incense ;  nor  was  any  to  be  made  like  it  on  pain  of  death. 
Exod.  xxx.  34 — 38. 

86  Q.     What  was  the  use  of  this  incense  or  perfume  ? 

Ji.  Some  of  it  was  to  be  beat  to  powder,  and  laid  be- 
fore the  ark  in  the  most  holy  place  before  the  Lord. 
Exod.  xxx.  56.  And  it  was  tins  incense  of  sweet  spices 
which  was  burnt  daily  on  tlie  altar  of  incense.  Sec 
Exod.  XXX.  7,  8,  9,  and  xxx  v.  15,  and  xxxvii.  29. 

87  Q.  What  is  the  last  sort  of  holy  things  relatiflg 
to  tlie  Jewish  worship  ? 


44  SCRIPTURE  FlISTORY.  Chap.  5. 

d.  The  instruments  and  vessels  which  were  used  in 
their  sacrifices,  and  in  any  other  part  of  their  religion  ; 
and  they  were  made  chiefly  of  gold,  silver,  bi'ass,  and 
wood. 

88  Q.     What  instruments  were  made  oigold  ? 

Jl.  The  golden  censer  t>elonging  to  the  most  holy 
place ;  the  vessels  belonging  to  the  table  of  shew-bread ; 
namely,  the  bowls,  and  dishes,  and  spoons,  and  covers ; 
the  vessels  belonging  to  the  candlesticks  and  lamps, 
namely,  tiie  snuffers  and  snuff-dishes,  &c.  Heh.  ix.  4. 
Exod.  xxxvii.  16,  23. 

89  Q.    What  instruments  were  made  of  silver  ? 

*3.  Besides  the  hooks  and  fillets  of  the  pillars  of  the 
court,  and  the  sockets  of  some  of  the  pillars,  and  of  all 
the  boards  of  the  tabernacle,  which  were  of  silver,  Exod, 
xxvi.  19,  &c.  and  xxvii.  10,  &c.  there  were  chargers  and 
bowls  of  silver,  offered  by  the  princes  for  the  use  of  the 
sanctuaiy,  JWmb.  vii.  13,  and  trumpets  of  silver.  JS'umb, 
x,2. 

90  ^.    What  were  the  instruments  of  brass  ? 

A.  Those  which  belonged  to  the  altar  of  burnt-offer- 
ing, namely,  the  pots,  shovels,  basons,  and  flesh-hooks, 
and  fire  pans,  beside  the  brazen  grate  of  net  work. 
Exod,  xxviii.  3,  4.  Also  the  common  censers  for  in- 
cense were  supposed  to  be  vessels  of  brass  fit  to  hold  fire^ 
JVMmfe.  xvi.  17,   37. 

91  Q.    What  were  the  instruments  of  woorf.^ 

Ji.  The  staves  fixed  to  the  golden  rings  to  bear  both 
the  ark,  the  incense  altar,  and  the  golden  table,  were  ail 
made  of  shittim  wood,  and  overlaid  with  gold.  Exod. 
xxxvii.  4,  15,  28,  but  the  staves  to  bear  the  altar  of  burnt- 
offering  were  overlaid  with  brass.    Exod,  xxxviii.  6^ 


Sect.  V.     Of  the  Holy  Times  mid  Holy  dctions, 

92  Q.  Having  surveyed  the  holy  things  of  the  Jews, 
let  us  inquire  what  were  the  chief  of  the  holy  times  or 
days  appointed  to  them  2 


Sect.  5.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  45 

wJ.  The  weekly  sabbaths,  tlie  new  moons,  the  feast  of 
the  passover,  the  feast  of  pentecost,  tlie  feast  of  tium- 
pets,  the  preat  day  of  atonement,  and  the  feast  of  taber- 
nacles. See  most  or  all  these  holy  times  prescribed  in 
Lev.  xxiii.  and  the  several  sacrifices  belonging  to  them 
in  wV«»i&.  xxviii.  xxix. 

93  ({,     What  was  the  weekly  sabhnth  ? 

Jl.  The  seventh  day  of  every  week  was  a  day  of  ho- 
ly rest  from  all  tlie  common  labours  of  life,  and  a  day  of 
assembling,  or  worship,  which  is  called  an  holy  convoca- 
tion,'  Exod,  XX.  8,  10.     Lev.  xxiii.  2,  3. 

94  ^.  What  special  public  service  was  done  on 
this  day  ? 

A.  The  daily  sacrifice  was  doubled,  JS'*iimh.  xxviii. 
9,  and  it  is  very  probable,  tliat  sonie  portions  of  the  law 
were  to  be  read,  and  perhaps  expounded,  chiefly  by  the 
priests  and  Levitcs,  as  was  practised  afterwartl  in  the 
synagogues,  Jicta  xv.  21,  and  perhaps  also  this  might 
be  done,  at  least  in  the  following  times,  on  all  days  of 
holy  convocation. 

95  ^.     Why  was  this  day  sanctified  or  made  holy  ? 

.^.  Partly  from  God's  resting  from  the  work  of  crea- 
tion on  the  seventh  day,  and  partly  in  remembrance  of 
the  Israelites'  deliverance  and  rest  from  tlieir  slavish  la- 
bours in  Esjypt.     Exod.  xx.  11.    Deut.  v.  15. 

96  Q.     What  was  the /<^as^  of  the  new-moons? 

*i»  In  the  beginning  of  their  months,  which  they 
reckoned  by  new-moons,  they  were  to  blow  the  silver 
Trumpets,  and  offer  a  special  sacrifice.  JVumb,  x.  10. 
-wiii.  11.     1  Sam.  xx.  5.     Psalm  Ixxxi.  3. 

9r  ({.     What  was  the/fas^  of  tlie  pass-tjver  ? 

.^.  It  was  kept  for  seven  days  in  their  first  month, 
\bib,  by  sacrificing  a  lamb,  and  eating  it  in  every  fanu- 
iy,  in  remembrance  of  God's  passing  over  the  families  of 
Israel,  when  he  slew  the  first  born  in  every  house  of  the 
Egyptians.    Exod.  xii.  18,  &c. 

Here  nole.,  that  the  first  month  of  tlie  Jpw*:,  for  all  the  com- 
mon iiff.iirs  of  life,  which  are  c;illc(l  civil  iifTairf;,  wasTisri,  which 
in  part  answers  to  our  September,  and  is  Uie  first  month  after 
the  autumnal  equinox :  and  it  was  always  so  to  continue  for 


46  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.         Chap.  5, 

civil  affairs,  as  appears  from  Exod.  xxiii.  16,  chap.  xxiv.  22,  and 
Lev.  XXV.  8 — 10.  But  as  to  ecclesiastical  or  religious  matters, 
the  first  month  after  the  vernal  equinox,  called  Abib,  which  an- 
swers partly  to  our  jMarch,  was  designed  to  be  the  beginning  of 
the  year  to  the  Jews,  in  memory  of  their  great  deliverance 
from  Egypt. 

98  Q.  In  what  manner  was  the  feast  of  the  pass-over 
kept  ? 

A,  On  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  month,  they  were  ta 
roast  a  lamb  for  supper,  and  to  eat  unleavened  bread  that 
evening,  and  seven  days  after.  Exod,  xii.  S,  8,  19. 
JSTumb.  xxviii.  16,  17. 

99  Q.  Was  there  any  particular  worship  performed 
on  these  seven  days  ? 

.4.  Yes;  there  were  special  sacrifices  every  day,  a 
sheaf  of  the  first  ripe  corn,  that  is,  barley,  was  now  of- 
fered to  God ;  and  on  the  first  and  last  day  there  was 
an  holy  convocation  or  assembly  for  worship.  Exod.  xii. 
16.    JYumb,  xxviii.  16,  &c.     Lev.  xxiii.  10. 

100  Q.     What  was  the /<?as^  of  pentecost? 

A.  Fifty  days  or  seven  weeks  after  the  first  ripe  corn 
(or  barley)  had  been  otFered  to  God,  there  was  a  particu- 
lar sacrifice,  and  an  holy  assembly,  and  two  loaves  of  the 
first  fruits  of  wheat  were  to  be  offered.  Lev.  xxiii. 
15—21. 

Note.  This  was  caljed  the  feast  of  weeks.  Dent,  xvi.  16, 
compared  with  Exod.  xxiii.  16.  It  was  a  sheaf  of  barley  that 
was  offered  at  the  pass-over,  and  two  loaves  of  wheat  at  pente- 
cost, both  of  them  as  first  fruits.  See  Pool's  Annotat.  on 
Exod.  xxiii.  IG. 

101  Q.  What  was  the  reason  of  the  feast  of  pente- 
cost? 

Ji,  It  was  kept  as  a  thanksgiving  foi-  the  beginning 
of  wheat  harvest,  Exod.  xxiii.  16,  and  perhaps  also  in 
memory  of  the  giving  of  the  law  at  Mount  Sinai ; 
\vhich  was  seven  weeks,  or  fifty  days  after  the  pass-over, 
and  their  coming  out  of  Egypt.     Exod.  xx.  1,  11. 

Note.  They  went  out  of  Egypt  the  fourteenth  day  of  the 
first  month..    Exod.  xii.  17,  18.    From  thence  to  the  beginning 


Sect.  5.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  47 

of  the  third  month  is  forty  six  or  forty  seven  days,  when  they 
came  to  the  Mount  of  Sinai.  Exod.  xx.  1,  2.  Then  they  pu- 
rified themselves  three  days,  rcr.  11,  16,  and  God  gave  the  law 
the  fiftieth  day :  and  this  feast  was  called  penUcosf^  which  iu 
the  Greek  signifies^/Zie/A. 

102  Q.     What  vras  ihe  feast  of  trumpets  ? 

Ji.  The  first  day  of  the  seventh  month,  blowing  of 
trumpets  was  appointed  with  peculiar  sacrifices,  and  an 
holy  assembly.    Zfr.xxiii.  24.    J^umh,  xxix.  1,  &c. 

103  Q.  What  are  supposed  to  be  the  two  chief  de- 
signs of  this  feast  of  trumpets  ? 

Ji.  (1.)  The  seventh  month  having  several  holy  days 
in  it,  it  was  a  sort  of  sabbatical  month,  or  month  of  sab- 
baths, and  was  to  be  begun  with  an  extraordinary  sound 
of  trumpets.  (2.)This  was  counted  the  first  month,  and 
first  day  of  the  year  for  civil  matters,  as  the  other  was 
for  things  religious,  and  was  to  be  proclaimed  by  sound 
of  trumpet.  See  Pool's  Annotat.  on  Lev.  xxiii.  24,  and 
XXV*  9. 

JVo/c.  As  the  seventh  day  was  the  aabbath^  or  day  of  rest 
from  labour,  so  the  seventh  month  was  a  sort  of  sabhatical  month; 
the  seventh  year  a  sabbatical  year^  to  let  the  land  rest  from  till- 
age ;  and  at  or  after  the  seventh  sabbatical  year,  that  is,  once 
iu  fifty  year?,  there  was  a  year  of  jubilee^  or  release  and  rest 
from  servitude  or  bondage.     Lev.  xxv.  2,  &c.  8,  &c. 

104  Q.    What  was  the  great  day  of  atonement? 

A,  The  tenth  day  of  the  seventh  month  was  appoint- 
ed as  a  general  day  of  public  fasting  and  humiliation, 
repentance,  and  atonement,  for  all  the  people.  Lev, 
xxiii.  27,  and  xvi.  29,  and  J>rumb.  xxix. 

105  ^.    What  was  to  be  done  on  that  day? 

Ji,  This  was  the  day  when  tlie  high  priest,  dressed 
in  his  richest  gannents,  was  to  enter  into  the  most  holy 
place  witli  the  blood  of  a  peculiar  sacrifice,  and  sprinkle 
it  upon  tlie  mercy-seat  before  tlie  Lonl.  to  make  atone- 
ment for  the  sins  of  the  whole  nation,  and  to  offer  in- 
cense on  the  golden  censer.  See  several  more  ceremo- 
nies helongin*:  to  this  day.  Lev.  xvi.  Let  it  be  ob- 
served also,  tliat  in  the  year  of  jubilee,  on  this  great  day 


48  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  5. 

of  atonement,  the  trumpet  of  jubilee  was  to  be  sounded 
through  the  land,  to  proclaim  liberty  to  all  the  inhabi- 
tants.   Lev.  XXV.  8 — 10. 

106  Q.    What  was  Hht  feast  of  tabernacles? 

A.  On  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  sevendi  month,  at  the 
end  of  all  their  harvest,  they  begun  this  feast,  and  dwelt 
seven  days  in  booths  made  of  the  boughs  of  trees.  Deut. 
xvi.  13. 

107  Q.     What  was  the  design  of  this  ceremony  ? 

A.  To  keep  in  memory  their  dwelling  in  booths  in 
the  wilderness,  when  they  went  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt. 
Lev.  xxiii.  39 — 44. 

108  Q.    How  was  this  feast  observed? 

Ji.  By  peculiar  sacrifices  every  day  of  the  feast,  and 
a  holy  assembly  on  the  first  day,  and  on  the  eighth  day. 
JWimb.  xxix.  12. 

109  Q.  At  what  hour  did  their  sabbaths,  and  all  their 
feasts  beo-in  and  end  ? 

w3.  The  Jews  counted  their  days,  and  particularly 
their  holy  days,  from  the  evening  at  sunset  to  the  next 
evening.     Gen.  i.  5.    Lev.  xxiii.  5, 32. 

110  Q.     At  what  place  were  the  feasts  to  be  kept? 
Ji.    At  the  place  which  God  should  choose  for  the 

residence  of  the  ark  and  tabernacle;  which  was  first  at 
Shiloh,  afterwards  at  Jerusalem  ;  though  the  blowing  of 
trumpets  to  proclaim  the  beginning  of  the  year  was  prac- 
tised in  all  the  cities  of  Israel.  See  Deut.  xvi.  16,  and 
Pool's  Annotat.  on  Lev.  xxiii.  24.     2  Kings,  xxi.  4. 

111  Q.     How  then  could  all  Israel  keep  these  feasts  ? 
A.    At  the  three  chief  feasts,  namely,  the  pass-over, 

pentecost,  and  the  feast  of  tabernacles,  all  the  males 
were  to  appear  before  God  in  one  place  with  some  offer- 
ing.   Exod,  xxiii.  14 — 17.     Deut.  xvi.  16. 

112  Q.  What  was  the  offering  they  were  to  bring 
unto  God  when  they  appeared  before  him  at  these  sol- 
-emn  feasts  ? 

*5.  The  tithe  or  tenth  part  of  their  corn,  wine,  and  oil, 
and  the  first  born  of  their  cattle ;  but  they  themselves 
were  to  partake  in  eating  of  it,  Deut  xiv.  22,  23, 
though  the  bulk  of  it  was  to  be  given  to  the  priests  and 
Levites.    See  Chap.  VI.  ^uest.  1 5, 16. 


Sect.  6.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  49 

1 13  Q.  Was  it  not  dangerous  for  them  to  leave  their 
own  dwell in}z;s,  in  towns  and  villages  which  bordered  on 
their  enemy's  country  ? 

A,  God  promised  them,  that  when  they  should  go  up 
to  appear  before  him  thrice  in  the  year,  no  man  should 
desire  their  land,  Exod.  xxxiv.  5i3,  24,  which  was  a 
standing  miracle  during  that  dispensation. 

114  Q.  Having  heard  this  account  of  holy  persons 
and  places,  things  and  times,  let  us  now  inquire  what 
were  the  holy  actions  ? 

A,  All  those  actions  may  be  called  holy,  which  were 
appointed  to  be  a  part  of  this  ceremonial  worship ;  but 
the  actions  relating  to  the  natural  worship  oi  God, 
such  as  prayer  and  praise,  are  in  themselves  holy  and 


Sect.  VI.     The  Use  of  the  Jewish  Ceremonies, 

l\5  ({.  What  were  the  chief  uses  of  all  these  cere- 
monial commands  ? 

A.  These  three  :  (1.)  To  distinguish  the  Jews  from 
all  otiier  people,  as  a  holy  people,  and  God*s  peculiar 
visible  church,  who  eminently  bore  ttphis  name  and  hon- 
our in  the  vrorld.     Lev.  xx.  22 — 26. 

(2.)  To  employ  that  people,  who  were  so  much  given 
to  idolatry,  in  many  varieties  of  outward  forms  and  rites 
of  religion,  lest  they  sliould  be  tempted  to  follow  the  su- 

?erstition  and  idolatry  of  the  nations  round  about  them. 
)eut.  vi.  1,  2,  14,  ir.     Deut,  xxix.  1,  9—18. 
(3.)     To   represent  by  types,  figures   and   emblems, 
many  of  the  ofliccs  of  Clirist,  and  the  glories  and  bless- 
ings  of  his  Gospel. 

1 16  Q.    ll()w  doth  it  appear  that  any  of  these  Jewish 
jcnionies  are  emblems   or  types  of  Christ  and  his 
'i  OS  pel?  , 

J.  (1.)  This  appears  from  many  places  in  the  New 
Testament,  where  Jesus  Christ  and  tlie  blessing  of  the 
'Josi>eI  are  called  by  the  same  names;  so  Christ  is  called 

f 


50  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  5. 

our  High  Vriest,  Heb.  iii.  1,  and  iv.  14.  He  is  the  Lamb 
that  was  slain.  Rev,  v.  6.  1  Pet.  i,  19,  20*  Our  Pass- 
over ^  1  Cor.  V.  7,  and  Sacrifice  to  take  away  sin.  Heh. 
ix.  26.  The  atonement  or  Propitiation  for  sin.  Pom, 
iii.  25.  1  Jo/?w  ii.  2.  His  body  is  called  the  Temple^ 
because  God  dwelt  in  it  as  in  the  Jewish  temple.  John 
n.  19,  21.     CoL  ii.  9. 

(2.)  This  appears  yet  further  from  the  evident  and  in- 
tended resemblance  which  the  Scripture  represents  be- 
tween several  of  the  Jewish  ceremonies,  and  the  thing* 
of  the  Gospel.  The  blood  of  Christ  obtained  eternal  re- 
demption for  us,  as  the  blood  of  bulls  and  goats  cleansed 
and  freed  the  Jews  from  ceremonial  defilements.  Heh. 
ix.  12,  &c.  His  blood  is  called  the  blood  of  sprinkling, 
Heb,  xii.  24,  to  sprinkle  or  cleanse  us  from  a  guilty  con- 
science, as  the  sprinkling  of  the  blood  of  the  Jewish  sac- 
rifices purified  the  people.  Heb.  ix.  20,  and  x.  22.  The 
"most  holy  place,  where  God  dwelt  of  old  on  the  mercy- 
seat,  is  the  figure  of  the  true  heaven,  where  God  dwells 
on  a  throne  of  grace.  Heb,  ix.  8,  24,  and  iv.  16.  The  high 
priest's  entrance  with  the  blood  of  the  sacrifice,  and  with 
the  names  of  the  tribes  on  his  breast,  into  the  most  holy 
place,  to  appear  before  God  there  for  the  Jews,  is  a  plain 
figure  of  Christ's  entrance  into  heaven  with  liis  own 
:  blood,  to  appear  before  God  for  us.  //e6,  ix.  12,  25. 
The  Jewish  incense  was  a  type  or  figure  of  prayer. 
JUv,  v.  8,  and  viii.  3.  The  Jewish  sabbatli,  or  day  of 
restj  as  well  as  the  land  of  Canaan,  was  a  type  of  the 
rest  and  release  of  believers  from  sin  and  guilt,  and  from 
an  uneasy  conscience,  under  the  Gospel,  and  the  final 
lest  of  the  saints  in  heaven.     Heb.  iv.  3,  4,  9, 10. 

This  might  be  proved  more  at  large  by  some  other 
scriptures,  where  tlie  Jewish  rights  in  general  are  called 
figures  or  shadows  of  the  good  things  of  the  Gospel. 
Col  ii.  16,  17.     Heb.  viii.  5,  and  iv.  1—14,  23,  24. 

117  Q.  Did  the  Jews  themselves  understand  the 
spiritual  meaning  of  these  ceremonies  ? 

Ji.  Perhaps  a  few  of  them,  who  were  more  enlighten- 
ed, might  understand  the  meaning  of  some  of  the  chief- 
cst  and  most  considerable  ivpe^i ;  but  the  bulk  of  the*" 


.Sect.  6  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  5i 

people  can  hardly  be  supposed  to  have  understood  the 
spiritual  meaning  of  them ;  at  least  the  Bible  gives  us  no 
intimation  of  it. 

118^.  How  could  they  be  appointed  as  types  and 
figures  of  spiritual  things,  if  the  people,  who  were  re- 
fjuired  to  use  tliem  in  tlieir  worship,  did  not  understand 
the  spiritual  meaning  of  them  ? 

jL  (1.)  The  Jewish  dis|>ensation  was  the  childish  or 
infant  state  of  the  church  of  God,  as  it  is  described,  GaL 
\\.  1,  2,  3,  &,c.  JNow,  children  are  sometimes  employed 
in  several  tliiogs  by  their  wiser  parents,  the  chief  design 
and  meaning  whereof  they  understand  not  till  riper 
years. 

['■2.)  If  these  ceremonies  were  not  understood  by  the 
.aicient  Jews,  to  whom  they  were  given,  yet  they  might 
be  desigi^ed  as  t}'pes  and  figures  of  Christ,  and  the  bless- 
ings of  the  Gospel,  in  order  to  confinn  the  religion  of 
(Jirist  and  the  Gospel,  when  it  should  be  afterward^ 
published  to  the  world,  by  seeing  how  happily  it  answers 
those  ancient  types. 

1 19  <^.     Wfiere  doth  this  appear  ^ 

Ji.  St.  Paul  does  actually  confirm  Christianity  this 
way,  especially  in  his  epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  by  shewing 
how  these  ancient  types  and  ceremonies  are  fulfilled  in 
the  Gospel  of  Christ. 

J^ole.  As  K  prophecy  is  the  foretelling  of  things  to  come,  in 
vv  M\;-.  eo  a  type  is  the  foretelling  of  something  to  come,  in  some 
'  i  '  iiiblem  or  figure  or  resemblance  of  it:  now  as  there  are 
.iiuiry  ancient  prophecies  which  were  not  understooil  by  the 
f)er?on!«  to  whojn  they  \#^re  first  =poken,  nor  by  th*^  persons 
v.iio  ^-poke  them,  1  Pel.  i.  11,  12,  yet  when  they  are  fulfilled 
I  hey  come  to  be  better  nnderstood,  and  bear  witness  to  the 
liand  of  (iod,  both  in  (he  prophecy  and  in  the  accomplishment. 
Ho  though  types  may  be  obscure,  when  they  are  fir>t  appointed, 
yet  when  tliey  are  accomplished  or  fuhllled,  they  are  lie  tter  un- 
derstood, and  shew  the  hand  of  (iod,  both  in  appointing  the 
sign,  and  b.-tnging  to  poi-s  the  (hin<^  ^ilcnified. 

120  Q.  Can  these  thines  bo  suid  therefore  to  be  ful- 
filled or  accomplished  in  Christ,  since  the  meaning  of  all 
those  ceremonies  or  types  rs  not  yet  known  even  to 
(  hristians  themselves  r 


52  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  6. 

J,  The  New  Testament  has  revealed  to  us^  and 
taught  us  to  understand  the  chief  ami  most  considerable 
both  of  the  types  and  prophecies ;  but  neither  one  nor 
the  other  are  understood  fully :  and  yet  we  make  no 
doubt  but  the  prophecies  are,  or  shall  be  accomplished  in 
Christ;  and  why  not  the  types  also?  Probably  it  is  re- 
served as  one  part  of  the  glory  of  that  happy  day,  when 
the  Jews  shall  be  convened,  that  the  rest  of  their  pro- 
phesies, as  well  as  thorites  and  ceremonies  of  their  ancient 
worship,  together  with  their  accomplishment  in  Christ 
and  the  Gospel,  shall  be  more  completely  understood. 


CHAP.  VI. 

Of  the  Folitical  or  Judicial  Law  of  the  Jaws. 

1   Q.  We  have  had  a  particular  relation  of  the  moral 
and  ceremonial  laws  of  the  Jews;   say  now  what  was 


1  government  as 


their  judicial  or  jiflitical  law  ? 

*^.     That  which  related  to  their  civi 
a  nation. 

2  Q.     Who  was  their  governor? 

S.  God  himself  condescended  to  take  upon  him  the 
title  of  their  King,  and  he  appointed  various  kinds  of 
governors  under  him,  as  he  thought  tit.  Judges  viii.  23. 
1  Sam,  xii.  12,  13.     Isa.  xxxii.  22. 

JVote.  Since  the  same  person  w^  both  their  God  and  their 
King,  the  tabernacle  and  the  temple  may  be  considered  not 
only  as  the  residence  of  their  God,  but  as  the  palace  of  their 
King  also.  Tiie  court  of  ihe  tabernacle  was  the  court  of  the 
palace  ;  the  holy  of  holies  was  the  presence  chamber  ;  the 
mercy-seat  was  his  throne  ;  the  cherubs  reprcisented  his  atten- 
dants as  God,  and  the  priests  were  his  ministers  of  state  as  King  ; 
the  high-priest  his  prime-minister  ;  thu  Levites  were  his  officers, 
dispersed  tlirough  all  the  kingdom  ;  the  table  of  shew-bread, 
together  with  some  part  of  the  sacritices  which  were  given  to  the 
priest,  did  represent  the  provision  for  his  household,  Szc. 

Whatsoever  other  governors  were  made  from  time  to  time, 
cither  captains,  judges  or  kings,  they  were  but  deputies  to  God, 
who  })iit  them  in  and  turned  them  out  at  pleasure. 


Chap.C.  SCRIFrLRE  HISTORV.  3S 

3  ^.  Wliat  did  the  political  or  ci\il  laws,  or  com- 
niaiuis,  oblige  the  people  to  r 

Jl.  To  many  particular  practices,  relating,  (1 .)  To 
war  and  peace.  (2.)  To  husbands  and  wives.  (3.)  Pa- 
rents and  children.  (4.)  Masters  and  servants.  (5.) 
Food  and  raiment.  (6.)  Houses  and  lands.  (7.)  Corn 
and  husbandry.  (8.)  Money  and  cattle.  (9.)  The  birds 
and  beasts.  (10.)  The  first-born  of  all  thin^.  (11.) 
The  maintenance  of  the  Levites  and  priests,  (12.)  The 
care  of  the  bodies  and  lives  of  men. 

4  Q.  What  were  some  of  the  more  peculiar  lawa 
about  war  and  peace  ? 

J}.  That  they  should  make  no  peace  with  the  seven 
nations  of  Canaan,  but  that  they  should  destroy  them 
utterly  ;  and  that  when  they  went  to  war,  every  soldier 
who  was  afraid  might  go  home.  Dent,  vii,  1,  2,  3,  and 
chap.  XX.  8. 

5  Q.  \^'llat  were  some  of  their  peculiar  laws  about 
husbands  and  wives  ? 

Ji,    That  a  man  sliould  marry  his  brothei^'s  widow,  it' 
his  brother  died  childless :  and  that  men  were  permitted  ~uj 
to  put  away  their  wives  by  a  writing  of  divorce.  Dent,  'v 
XXV.  5,  xxiv.  1.    And  that  adultery  was  to  be  punished 
with  death.    Lev,  xx.  10.  V^ 

6  ^.     What  weie  some  of  their  special  laws  about      ^ 
parents  and  children  ?  ^ 

Ji.    The  first-born  son  was  to  have  a  double  portion  :       ^ 
and  that  any  child  wlio  smote  or  cursed  his  father  or 
his  mother,  or  was  obstinately  rei)eUiouj*  and  inconigible, 
was  to  be  put  to  death.    Deut,  xxi.  17,  18 — 21.    hxod, 
xxi.  15, 17. 

7  Q.    What  are  some  of  their  special  laws  about      "^ 
masters  and  servants  ? 

A.  Any  servant  might  ^o  free  if  his  master  had 
maimed  him :  and  an  Isi-aelitish  servant,  though  he  were 
bought  with  money,  shall  go  out  free  for  nothing  in  the 
seventh  year ;  and'  if  he  will  not  jijo  out  free,  his  master 
shall  bore  his  ear  through  on  the  door  post  with  an  awl, 
and  he  shall  serve  him  forever.  Exod.  xxxi.  ^.^^\  and 
ver,  26,  27. 

6» 


64  yCRIFrURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  6, 

J^ote.  This  word, /orerer,  signifies  till  the  year  of  jubilee  ; 
for  all  servants  or  slaves  who  were  Hebrews  were  then  to 
have  their  freedom,  and  return  to  their  own  lands  and  posses- 
sions, in  their  own  tribe.  See  Lev.  xxv.  39 — 42.  And  this  is 
the  best  way  of  reconciling  Exod.  xxi.  with  Lev.  xxv.  where 
one  text  saith,  The  servant  shall  go  out  free  in  the  seventh  year., 
and  another  in  the  year  of  jubilee^  and  the  third  saith,  he  shall 
serve  forever. 

8  Q.  What  special  laws  had  they  relating  to  their 
food  f 

Ji.  That  they  should  eat  no  blood,  nor  the  fat  of  the 
kidneys,  nor  any  tiling  that  died  of  itself,  or  was  torn  of 
wild  beasts,  nor  any  of  the  beasts  or  birds,  or  fishes, 
which  were  pronounced  to  be  unclean,  Lev^  xi.  and  xvii. 
Deut.  xiv,  21.  And  therefore  they  would  not  eat  with 
heathens,  lest  they  should  taste  unclean  food. 

9  Q.  What  were  some  of  the  laws  relating  to  their 
clothing  ? 

*S,  A  man  must  not  wear  the  raiment  of  women,  nor 
a  woman  the  raiment  of  men  :  they  must  wear  no  mix- 
ed garment  made  of  woollen  and  linen ;  and  they  were 
required  to  make  fringes  in  the  borders  of  their  garments, 
and  put  upon  the  fringe  of  the  borders  a  ribbon  of  blue,^ 
tliat  they  might  look  upon  it,  and  remember  to  do  the 
commandments  of  the  Lord.  JSTimih.  xv.  38,  39.  Deut. 
xxii.  5,  11,  12. 

JVo/e.  In  our  Saviour's  time  they  wrote  sentences  of  the  law 
on  parchment,  and  put  them  on  their  fore-heads  and  their  gar^ 
ments  :  these  were  called  phylacteries.     Matt,  xxiii.  5. 

10  Q.  What  are  some  of  their  special  laws  about 
houses  and  lands  ? 

A,  That  every  seventh  year  the  land  should  rest  from 
ploughing  and  sowing  ;  and  God  promised  to  give  them 
food  enougli  in  the  sixth  for  the  three  years.  And  every 
fiftieth  year,  which  is  the  year  of  jubilee,  all  liouses  and 
lands  that  were  sold,  should  return  to  their  former  pos- 
sessors, except  houses  in  walled  towns.^  Lev,  xxv.  2 — 17, 
20,  21,  30,  &c. 

JVb/e.  Every  seventh  year,  in  which  the  fields  were  not  to 
lae  tilled,  was  called  a  sabbath,  or  sabbatical  year  ;  aud  after 


(hap.  -CRIPTURE  HISTORY.  56 

<  rrn  .sabbatical  years,  that  is^  forty-nine  years,  was  the  year  ol 

tbilec,  in  the  fiftieth.    Though  ?orne  have  supposed  the  jubilee 

be  the  forty-ninth  year  its-elf,  that  fo  two  sabbatical  years 

ii.ight  not  conic;  together  :  for  in  the  jubilee  it  is  plain,  ther«? 

was  to  be  no  plougliing,  nor  sowing,  nor  reaping,  not  vintage. 

Ltr.  XXV.  IK 

1 1  ({.  What  were  some  special  Jewish  laws  about 
roiTi  and  hushanciry  / 

J?.  Thry  were  forbid  to  plouo;li  with  an  ox  and  an 
ass  together;  to  sow  their  fields  with  seeds  of  different 
kinds;  or  to  make  clean  riddance  of  their  hanests,  either 
of  the  fiekl  or  of  the  trees,  for  the  gleanings  were  to  be 
left  for  the  poor.  Beut.  xxii.  9— -11.  L^r.  xix.  9,  10, 19. 
And  any  travellers  might  eat  their  fill  of  grapes  or  corn 
in  a  field  or  vineyard,  but  migjit  cany  none  away. 
Beut.  xxiii.  24, 25.  "  . 

12  Q.  What  were  some  of  their  peculiar  laws  about 
monpyy  ^oo(h,  and  cattlp  ? 

Ji.  They  might  lend  money  upon  usury  to  a  stranger 
but  not  to  an  Israelite.  That  a  thief  should  restore 
double  for  whatsoever  thing  he  had  stolen  ;  but  if  he 
stole  cattle,  and  killed  or  sold  them,  he  must  pay  five 
oxen  for  an  ox,  and  four  sheep  for  a  sheep.  Ejcod.  xxii. 
22.  Deut.  xxiii.  19,20.  Exod.  xxii.  1—9.  But  if  he  had 
nothing  to  pay,  the  thief  should  be  sold  for  his  theft. 
ver,  3. 

13  Q.  Wlrat  special  laws  related  to  beasts  and 
birds  ? 

Ji.  They  were  forbid  to  muzzle  the  mouth  of  the 
ox  that  trod  out  the  coru,  that  so  he  might  eat  some 
while  he  was  treading  it :  nor  wiien  they  took  a  bird^ 
nest  in  the  field  with  eggs  or  young  ones,  were  they  per- 
mitted to  take  the  dam  witli  tliem.  DeuU  xxv.  4,  and 
xxii.  6,  r.  I 

14  Q.  What  laws  were  given  them  about  the  first- 
bom  ? 

Ji,  The  first-born  of  man  and  beasts  were  devoted 
or  ffiven  to  God,  as  well  as  the  first-fruits  of  the  trees 
and  of  the  field.    Exod.  xxii.  29, 30.  JVm7n6.  xvii.  12, 13. 


56  SCRIPTURE   HISTORY.        Chap.  6. 

J^ote.  The  first-born  of  men  were  redeemed  by  the  Levites. 
The  first-born  of  beasts  were  to  be  sacrificed  or  some  way  put 
to  death,  if  not  redeemed.  Exod.  xii.  2,  12,  13,  15.  JVuinb. 
iii.  41. 

15  Q.  What  were  the  laws  about  the  maintenance 
of  the  priests  ? 

Ji.  The  priests  were  to  be  maintained  by  the  first- 
born of  all  cattle,  and  the  first-fruits  of  oil,  and  wine,  and 
corn,  and  tliey  had  a  share  in  various  sacrifices,  namely, 
the  Jieave-offerings,  the  wave-breast,  and  the  right  shoul- 
der, &c.    wTw?ji6.  xviii.  8 — 19. 

Ao/e.  Hcavt-offerings  were  to  be  moved  upwards  and  down- 
wards, towards  heaven  and  earth.  Wave-offerings  were  to  be 
shaken  to  and  fro,  or  moved  toward  the  four  quarters  of  the 
heaven.  All  this  is  supposed  to  signify  an  ofiering  of  them  to 
God,  as  universal  Lord  of  all  parts  of  the  creation,  and  who 
dwells  everywhere. 

16  ^.  What  were  the  laws  about  the  Levites'  main- 
tenance ? 

»4.  They  were  maintained  by  the  tenth  or  tithe  of 
fruits  and  corn,  which  God  appointed  for  them.  J\'umb. 
xvii.  21,24.  And  they  had  some  cities  and  their  su- 
burbs, given  them  out  of  every  tribe.    Josh.  xxi. 

17"  ^.  W^hat  were  some  of  their  special  laws  about 
the  bodies  and  the  lives  of  men  '/ 

Jl,  He  that  killed,  or  stole,  and  sold  a  man,  must  die 
for  it.  Exod,  xxi.  12,  16.  And  in  all  cases  of  real  in- 
jury or  mischief,  life  was  to  pay  for  life,  an  eye  for  an 
eye,  a  hand  for  a  hand,  or  a  foot  for  a  foot.  Lev.  xxiv. 
17 — 20.  And  this  was  the  penalty  of  a  false  witness, 
who  intended  to  bring  any  miscliief  whatsoever  on  an- 
other, i>eM^,xix.  18,  &c.  for  the  same  was  to  be  executed 
on  the  false  witness. 

18  Q.  Was  there  no  pardon  for  him  that  killed  an- 
other ? 

Ji,  If  he  did  it  wilfully  there  was  no  pardon  ;  but  if 
it  was  done  by  chance,  there  were  six  cities  of  refuge  in 
the  land  of  Canaan  appointed,  to  which  the  raansiayer 
might  fly  and  be  safe.  But  he  was  bound  to  dwell  there 
till  the  death  of  the  high-priest.    JS'Uiinh.  xxxv.  11 — SS- 


Chap.  6.         SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  57 

1 9  ^.  Was  the  taw  the  same  for  the  servant  or  sla ve, 
and  for  the  freeman,  iii  case  of  maiming;  and  of  murder? 

J.  Not  entirely  tiie  same  ;  lor  in  some  cases  of 
maiming  or  killing  a  slave,  the  offender  was  not  punish- 
ed to  the  same  dej^ree  as  if  the  injured  person  had  been 
a  freeman.     Exod.  xxi.  20,  26. 

20  Q.  What  were  some  of  the  usual  punishments  of 
criminals  appointed  in  the  Jewish  law? 

Ji,  A  fine  of  money  or  cattle  to  be  paid,  a  cutting 
off  froDi  the  people  or  congregation,  scourging  or  beat- 
ing, at  most  with  forty  stripes,  the  loss  of  a  linib,  or  the 
loss  of  life.  Exod.  xxi.  19, 22, 36.  Lev,  xix.  20,  c/mp. 
xxiv.  17—20. 

21  ^.  What  is  tise  meaning  of  being  cu^  q^/ro?/i 
the  people,  or  the  conf:;reguiion? 

Jl.     \n  some  greater  crimes,  such  as  presumptuous 
rebellion  against  the  laws  of  God,  wilful  sabbath-break- 
ing, &c.  it  may  signify  capital  punishment  or  death  by 
the  hands  of  tiie  magistrate.    J\*uwh.  xv.  30,  31.    Exod. 
xxxi.  14.     In  some  cases  it  niny  intend  a  being  devoted 
to  some  judgment  by  the  immediate  hand  of  God.     Lev. 
XV ii.  10,  and  xx.  5,  6.     But  in  some  lesser  crimes,  per- 
iiaps,  it  may  signify  no  more  than  to  be  excommunicated, 
or  shut  out  of  the  congregation  of  Israel,  and  the  privi- 
h'ges  thereof;  as  for  eating  leavened  bread  at  the  time 
'f  the  pass-over,  Exod.  xii.  1.5,  or  for  a  man's  going  unto 
lie  holy  things  with  his  uncleanness  upon  him.  Lev. 
xii.  3,  wUere  it  is  expressed,  that  that  soul  shall  be  cut 
dX  from  tit p  presence  of  God.     But  this  (juestion  hath 
'••me  difliculties  in  it,  and  learned  men  difler  about  the 
-ense  of  these  words,  being  cut  off. 

22  ^.  If  the  Jews  were  pertnitted  to  give  forty 
-tripes,  how  came  Paul  five  tinies  to  receive  but  forty 
-tri|>es  save  one  from  the  Jews,  who  so  much  hated  him  ? 
1  Cor.  xi.  24. 

J.  Because  they  pretended  to  be  very  scrupulous  mi 
obseniog  the  law  exactly,  and  therefore  thev  never  in- 
flicted more  than  thirty-nine  stripes,  lest  tKev  shoubl 
liappen  to  mistake  in  the  tale  while  they  were  inflicting 
'urty,  and  thus  transgcess  the  law. 


58'  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  T. 

23  Q.  What  were  their  most  common  ways  of  putting 
criminals  to  death  ? 

^.  By  hanging  them  on  a  tree,  or  by  stoning  them 
with  stones.  J^umL  xxv.  4.  Beut  xxi.  23,  xiii.  9,  10. 
JWmb.  XV.  So. 

24  Q.  How  many  witnesses  were  necessary  to  con- 
demn a  criminal  to  death  ? 

^.  At  the  mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses  shall  he 
that  is  worthy  of  death  be  put  to  death,  but  not  at  the 
mouth  of  one  witness.  Veut,  xvii.  G,  7. 

25  Q.  What  was  the  design  of  God  in  giving  them 
so  many  peculiar  laws  about  their  civil  or  political  af- 
fairs ? 

,&,  (I.)  To  let  them  know  that  God  was  their  King 
as  well  as  their  God,  and  to  keep  them  distinct  and 
separate  from  the  rest  of  the  nations,  as  his  own  people 
and  kingdom. 

(2.)  Many  of  these  laws  were  in  themselves  excel- 
lently suited  to  the  advantage  of  that  people,  dwelling 
in  that  country,  and  under  those  circumstances. 

(3.)  Some*  of  these  laws  had  a  moral  or  spiritual 
meaning  in  them,  which  might  partly  be  known  at  that 
time,  and  which  was  further  discovered  afterwards. 

26  Q.  What  instances  can  you  give  of  moral  lessons 
taught  by  these  political  laws  ? 

..'i.  l^hou  shall  not  take  the  dam  with  the  youn^^ 
Dent.  xxii.  6,  7,  is  to  teach  men  mildness  and  compas- 
sion. Thou  shall  not  muzzle  the  ox  that  tr^ids  out  the 
corn,  JDeut.  xxv.  4,  is  to  shew  that  ministers,  who  pro- 
vide us  spiritual  food,  ought  to  be  maintained  themselves, 
I  Cor.  ix.  9,  10,  for  so  the  apostle  Paul  has  explained  it. 


CHAP.  VII. 

Qf  the  Sins  and  Punishments  of  the  Jews  in  the  Wil^ 
derness. 

1  Q.  After  all  this  accouut  of  the  moral,  cerema- 
nial,  and  judicial  laws,  can  you  tell  me  whether  the 
children  of  l,sraet  obeved  them  or  no  ? 


,,ai).  r.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  >9 

.1.  No ;  they  often  broke  the  laws  of  God,  and  sinned 
as^ainst  him,  and  were  often  punished.  Jsa.  Ixiii.  10. 
Psalm  Ixxviii.  52 — 34. 

2  Q.  What  were  the  most  remarkable  sins  against 
God  in  the  wilderness  ? 

*i.  Besides  their  murmurings  at  some  difficulties  in 
the  beginning  of  their  journey,  their  first  remarkable  and 
notorious  crime  was  their  making  a  golden  calf,  and 
worshipping  it  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Sinai.  Exod.  xxxii. 
4,8. 

3  Q,  What  temptation,  or  what  pretence  could  they 
have  for  such  a  crime  ? 

•4L  Moses  was  gone  up  into  Mount  Sinai,  and  tarried 
there  so  many  days  longer  than  they  expected,  that  they 
wanted  some  visible  token  of  God's  presence  among 
them ;  and  so  they  constrained  Aaron  to  make  this  gol- 
den image,  to  be  a  representation  of  the  presence  of 
God,  but  without  God's  appointment.    Ejcod.  xxxii.  1 . 

JVb/«.  It  is  scarcely  to  be  supposed  that  this  was  the  mere 
image  of  a  comraou  calf,  or  that  the  Jews  could  fall  down  and 
-worship  such  an  image  ;  or  that  they  could  suppose  an  ox  or 
ralf,  which  was  the  idol  of  their  enemies  the  Egyptians,  was  a 
proper  emblem  of  the  God  of  Israel,  their  deliverer  from  Egypt. 
Probably  therefore  it  was  the  image  of  a  cherub,  partly  in  the 
form  of  a  wingtd  ox.  And  since  God  was  represented  imme- 
diately afterward  by  Moses  as  duelling  among  the  cherubims 
on  the  mercy-seat,  this  might  be  a  common  opinion  or  notion 
beforeliand  among  the  people  even  of  that  age.*  And  it  might 
be  made  as  a  visible  representation  of  the  presence  of  God,  for 
they  proclaimed  a  feast  to  Jehovah,  rcr.  5,  in  the  same  manner 
:is  Jeroboam,  long  afterward,  made  perhaps  the  same  sort  of 
images  for  the  same  purpose,  which  are  caJled  calves.  But  both 
iliis  ajid  that  being  done  without  God"'s  appointment,  it  was  all 
idolatry,  and  hi  a  way  of  the  utmost  contempt,  it  was  called 
nonhipping  a  calf ;  and  was  accordingly  punished  as  highly 
criminal.     See  Cfiap.  v.  Q.  37. 


•  Thei-e  were  some  things  relalinjf  to  the  worship  of  God  which 
that  people  h:ul  some  eeneral  notion  of,  before  Mosts  went  up  into 
the  mount  to  learn  all  the  particul.irs  from  Gotl :  as  for  inslance, 
they  had  altart,  and  sacrifices^  »inl  Hpritiklint^  of  blood.  Ilxod. 
xxiv.  4,  6,  8.  Tliey  had  prientSy  Erod.  xix.  2*2,  ii4,  and  a  tabcv. 
'fvcnblc   chapel.    Exod- xxxiW.  6,7      An<l  ihcy  might 


60  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap,  7, 

4  Q.    How  did  God  punish  fhem  for  the  golden  calf? 
Jh    The  children  of  Levi  were  commanded  to  slay 

their  brethren,  and  they  slew  three  thousand  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel.    Exod.  xxxii.  27,  28. 

5  Q.     What  was  another  of  their  remarkable  sins  ? 
A,    In  the  next  stage,  after  Sinai,  they  loathed  the 

manna,  which  God  sent  them,  and  murmured  for  want 
of  flesh.     JVumb,  xi.  4. 

6  (I.    How  was  the  murmuring  punished  ? 

v^.  God  gave  them  the  flesh  of  quails  in  abundance, 
and  sent  the  plague  with  it.    JVumh.  xi.  31,  33. 

7  Q.     What  was  their  third  remarkable  sin  ? 

Ji*  Being  discouraged  by  the  spies  who  searched  out 
the  land  of  Canaan,  and  brought  an  ill  report  of  that 
promised  land,  they  were  for  making  a  captain  to  return 
to  Egypt.     JWmb.  xxii.  32,  and  xiv.  3,  4,  36. 

8  Q.     How  was  this  rebellion  chastised  ? 

•3^  Ten  of  the  spies  died  immediately  of  a  plague,  and 
all  the  people  were  condemned  to  wander  forty  years 
in  the  wilderness,  till  all  those  who  were  above  twenty 
vears  old  should  die  by  decrees  in  their  travels.  JVumb, 
xiv.  29—37. 

9  §.    Who  of  the  spies  were  saved  ? 

•S.  None  but  Caleb  and  Joshua,  who  followed  the 
Lord  fully,  and  gave  a  good  account  of  the  land  of  prom- 
ise.    JSTumh.  xiv.  6,  23,  24,  37,  38,  and  xxvi.  65. 

10  Q.    What  was  their  fourth  remarkable  siw? 

Jl,  When  Korah,  Dathan,  and  Abiram,  stirred  up  a 
rebellion  against  Moses  and  Aaron.    nNhimb.  xvi.  1,  &c. 

11  Q.  What  was  the  occasion  of  this  rebellion  of 
Korah  and  his  companions  ? 

•5.  They  pretended  that  all  Israel  were  holy,  and 
that  Aaron  and  his  family  had  no  more  right  to  tho 
priesthood  than  they ;  and  that  Moses  took  too  mucli 
upon  him  to  determine  every  thing  among  them,  J\'*iimh, 
xvi.  3,  10. 

know  that  Cod  dwelt  among  angels,  or  some  glorious  winged  be- 
ings, as  hi3  attendants.  And  these  cherubs  might  be  sometimes 
figured  as  flying  men  with  calves'  feet,  or  as  flying  oxen,  as  pait  of 
the  equipage  or  attendants  of  (iod. 


Chap.  7,         SCRIPTURE  HIS TOHV.  61 

12  Q.  How  were  Korah,  Dathan  aWN^Vblram  pun- 
ished?  V- 

jj.  They  and  their  families  were  swallowed  up  by 
an  earthcjuake,*  and  their  two  hundred  and  titty  com- 
panions were  burnt  by  a  fire  which  came  out  from  God, 
ver.  31,  35,  and  when  the  congregation  murmured 
against  Moses  and  Aaron  for  the  death  of  these  sinners, 
God  smote  above  fourteen  thousand  of  them,  and  they 
died  of  the  plague,     ver^  41 — 50. 

13  Q.  What  miracle  did  God  work  to  shew  that  he 
had  chosen  .^ai'on's  family  to  the  priesthood  ? 

A.  He  bid  the  heads  of  the  people  choose  twelve 
rods  for  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel,  and  write  Aaron's 
name  upon  Levi's  rod,  and  iay  them  up  in  the  taberna- 
cle till  the  morrow  :  at  which  time  they  took  each  man 
his  rod,  and  Aaron's  rod  blossomed  and  yielded  almonds. 
JVamb.  xvii.  2—6—10. 

14  Q.     What  was  done  with  this  rotl  of  Aaron  ? 

A,  It  was  laid  up  in  the  ark  to  be  a  lasting  testimony 
against  these  rebels,  ver.  10,  and  to  confinn  Aaron's  right 
to  the  priesthood. 

15  ^.  What  was  a  fifth  remarkable  sin  of  the  peo- 
ple f 

d.  They  murmured  because  of  the  lengtli  of  the 
wav,  and  for  want  of  better  food  than  manna.  JSTumb. 
XXI.  4,  5. 

16  ^.    How  was  this  new  murmuring  punished  ? 

»J.  God  sent  fiery  sei*pents  among  them  which  destroy- 
ed man  v  of  them.    •\^umb.  x\i.6, 

17  ^.  How  were  the  people  healed  which  were  bitten 
by  tlie  serpents  ? 

t>i.  By  looking  up  to  a  serpent  of  brass,  which  Moses 
put  upon  a  high  pole  at  Goa's  command.  J)rumb,  xxi. 
S,  9. 

1 8  ((,    What  was  the  sixth  remarkable  sin  of  Israel  ? 
t/*/.     Wlioredom  and  idolatry  ;  for  they  loved  the  Mid- 

ianitish   women,  and  worshipped  their  gods.      ^"iimb. 
XXV.  1,  2. 

*  Vet  in  JVnmb.  xx\\.  11,  the  sonj  of  KoriAt  are  eicei»tc-d. 


f 


62  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.         Chap.  8. 

19  ^.  How  was  this  whoredom  and  idolatry  punish- 
ed? 

d.  By  the  command  of  God  and  Moses  to  kill  the 
offenders,  and  by  a  plague  which  slew  twenty-four  thou- 
sand.   JSTumh.  XXV.  4,  5,  9. 

20  Q.    Who  tempted  them  to  this  idolatry  ? 

A,  Balaam,  the  wicked  prophet  and  soothsayer. 
*iVMwi&.  xxxi.  16. 

£1  0.    Why  did  he  tempt  them  to  it  ? 

•4.  Because  God  hindered  him  from  cursing  Israel, 
when  Balak  the  king  of  Moab  had  hired  him  to  do  it 
JSTumb,  xxii.  5 — 12. 

22  ^.    How  did  God  hinder  him  ? 

^.  Three  ways.  (1.)  By  forbidding  him  to  go  at  first, 
though  afterwards  he  permitted  him.  (2.)  By  making  his 
own  ass  speak  to  him,  to  stop  him  when  he  was  going. 
(3.)  By  inspiring  him  with  prophecies,  and  compelling 
him  to  bless  Israel  three  or  four  times,  instead  of  cursing 
them.     See  JSumb,  xxii.  12,  SO,  31,  and  xxiii.  7,  8,  &c. 

23  Q.    What  became  of  Balaam  at  last? 

A,  He  was  slain  among  the  Midianites  by  the  men  of 
Israel,  under  the  conduct  of  Moses,  before  they  came  to 
the  river  of  Jordan.    •IWimb.  xxxi.  1 — 8. 


CHAP.  VIII. 

Of  the  Jews*  Entrance  into  Canaan,  and  their  Gov- 
*     ernment  by  Judges, 


Sect.  L     Of  the  Israelites*  Possession  of  Canaan, 

1  Q.  What  became  of  the  people  of  Israel  after  all 
their  wanderings  in  the  wilderness  ? 

Jl.  Though  their  sins  and  punishments  were  many 
and  great,  yet  they  were  not  destroyed ;  but  God  brought 
them  at  last  into  Canaan,  the  land  which  he  promised 
to  their  fathers.    JosIhi.ll. 


Sect.  1.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  6% 

2  Q.    Did  Moses  lead  tliera  into  that  land  ? 

Ji.  No ;  lie  was  only  permitted  to  see  it  from  Mount 
Pisji^ah,  and  there  he  died,  and  God  buried  him.  Deut. 
xxxiv.  I — 8. 

3  Q.    Did  Aaron  go  with  them  into  Canaan  ? 

J,  Aaron  died  l^fore  Moses,  and  Eleazar  his  son 
was  made  high  priest  in  his  room.    J\*nmb.  xx.  24 — 28. 

4  Q.  Why  were  not  Moses  the  lawgiver,  nor  Aaron 
the  high  priest  suffered  to  bring  the  people  into  the  land 
of  promise? 

j].  Because  they  had  both  sinned  and  offended  God 
in  the  wilderness,  and  God  would  shew  his  displeasure 
against  sin.     Deut.  xxii.  48 — 51. 

5  ({.  What  other  lesson  might  God  design  to  teaclv 
us  by  this  conduct  of  providence  ? 

J.  Peril aps  Gotl  might  teach  us  hereby  that  neither 
the  laws  of  Moses,  nor  the  priesthood  ol  Aaron,  were 
sufficient  to  bring  us  into  the  possession  of  the  heavenly 
country,  of  which  Canaan  was  a  ligure. 

6  ((.  Who  was  appointed  to  lead  tlie  people  of  Israel 
into  the  promised  land  r 

J}.  Joshua,  wliose  nanje  is  the  same  with  Jesus,  and 
who  came  to  be  the  governor  and  ^ptain  of  Israel  after 
Moses  died.    Josh,  ili.  13 — 15. 

7  ^.    I!ow  did  they  get  over  the  river  Jordan  ? 

•S.  As  soon  as  the  priests  who  bore  the  ark  dippeJ 
their  feet  in  the  brink  of  the  river,  the  waters  which  were 
above  rose  up  in  an  heap,  and  the  channel  was  left  dry 
while  all  the  people  passed  over.     Josh.  iii.  14, 15. 

8  (I.  What  memorial  did  they  leave  of  their  passing 
over  Jordan  on  foot  ? 

•i.  By  God's  appointment  they  took  up  twelve  stones 
out  of  the  midst  of  Jordan,  where  the  priests  stooil  with 
the  ark  while  the  tribes  passed  over,  and  set  them  up  a*; 
a  monument  in  the  place  wherein  they  lodged  the  first 
night.     Josh.  iv.  3 — 9,  23. 

9  Q.  How  were  they  conunajided  to  deal  witli  the 
Canaanites  when  they  took  their  land? 

.?.    They  were  required  to  tfestroy  them  utterly,  lest 


64  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  8. 

if  they  should  live  they  might  teach  Israel  their  idolatries 
and  their  wicked  customs.    Beut,  vii.  16 — 26. 

10  Q.  But  what  right  had  the  Jews  to  destroy  them, 
and  take  their  country  ? 

J,  The  Canaanites  were  abominable  sinners,  and 
God,  by  particular  inspiration,  made  the  Jews  the  execu- 
tioners of  his  wrath  against  them,  just  as  he  might  have 
used  a  plague,  or  the  beasts  of  the  earth  to  have  destroy- 
ed them ;  and  then,  as  the  sovereign  Lord  of  all,  he 
gave  their  forfeited  country  and  possessions  to  whom  he 
pleased.     Zr^i*.  xviii.  24,  25.     Psalm  cxxxvi.  17 — 22. 

Here  let  it  be  observed,  that  this  awful  instance  of  one  na- 
1  ion's  destroying:  another,  and  seizing  their  lands  and  posses- 
sions, Avas  authorised  by  God  himself,  the  righteous  Judge  of  the 
world,  in  and  by  a  long  train  of  most  conspicuous  and  public 
miracles  and  prophecies  ;  so  that  the  Israelites  could  not  be  de- 
ceived in  their  divine  commission  for  this  bloody  work.  Nor  i« 
it  liable  to  be  made  a  precedent,  or  a  pretence  for  any  other 
nation  or  person  to  treat  their  neighbours  at  this  rate,  be  they 
fver  so  wicked,  unless  they  can  shew  such  astonishing  and  un- 
doubted attestations  of  a  plain  commission  from  God,  the  righte- 
ous Governor  of  the  world,  and  the  sovereign  Lord  of  all. 

11  Q.  What  was ^he  first  city  they  took  in  Canaan  ? 
Ji.     Jericho,  whose  walls  fell  down,  when  by  God's 

appointment  they  sounded  trumpets  made  of  rams'  horns, 
./os/e.  vi.5,  20. 

12  f^.  What  did  they  do  when  tliey  took  the  city  r 
Ji.  By  God's  command  they  devoted  it  as  the  first- 
fruits,  to  be  a  sacrifice  to  the  Lord,  and  therefore  they 
i)urnt  all  the  goods  in  it,  together  with  the  city,  as  well 
us  destroyed  all  the  inhabitants,  except  Rahab  the  harlot, 
and  her  kindred.     Josh.  vi.  24,  25. 

13  Q.     Why  was  Rahab  spared  ? 

J}.  Because  she  believed  that  God  would  give  Israel 
ilie  land  of  Canaan,  and  she  hid  and  saved  the  spies 
whom  Joshua  sent.  Josh,  ii.  9 — 14,  and  vi.  25,  26.  Ileh. 
xi.  31. 

14  Q.  How  did  the  army  of  Israel  succeed  against 
{lie  nven  of  Ai? 

A.     God  suftered  Israel  to  be  put  to  flight  before  the 


Sect  I.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  §>& 

men  of  Ai,  because  Aclian  an  Israelite  had  stole  and  hid 
«ome  of  the  sj)oil  of  the  city  of  Jericho,  which  was  ao 
cursed,  and  <levoted  to  the  tire.     Josh,  vii.  5— r5. 

15  ^.  How  was  the  anger  of  God  appeased  for  this 
crime  r 

,4.    They  mourned  humbly  before  God,  they  sought 
out  the  person  who  Ijad  stolen  this  accursed  thing,  and 
stoned  him  and  his  family  to  death.    Josh.  vii.  6,  13,  14» 
24. 
.     16  ^.     How  did  they  take  the  city  of  Ai  at  last  ? 

^.  By  counterfeiting  a  flight  as  on  the  former  day; 
and  when  t!ie  men  of  Ai  were  drawn  out  of  the  city, 
the  Israelites  who  lay  in  ambush  entered  and  burnt  it. 
Josh.  viii.  13—29. 

17  Q.  How  did  the  Gibeonites  deceive  the  people  of 
Israel,  and  save  themselves  from  death  r 

^Q.  They  sent  ambassadors,  with  old  sacks  upon  their 
asses,  and  old  garments  and  mouldy  bread,  to  prove  that 
they  came  from  a  far  country ;  and  the  men  of  Israel 
rashly  made  peace  with  them,  and  swore  to  it.  Josh, 
ix.  4 — 15. 

IB  ^.  What  did  Joshua  do  when  he  found  that  they 
dwelt  in  the  midst  of  Canaan  ? 

Ji.  He  let  them  live,  because  the  elders  had  sworn  ta 
them  ;  but  he  made  them  hewers  of  wood  and  drawers 
of  water  for  the  congregation  and  foi*  the  altar  of  the 
Lord.     ver.  27. 

19  (I.  How  did  Israel  conquer  the  king  of  Jerusalem,, 
with  his  four  allies  ? 

^.  Gotl  helped  Israel,  by  casting  great  hailstones  from 
heaven  upon  their  enemies.    Josh.Tf.  10,  11. 

20  ^.  \Vliat  remarkable  thing  did  Joshua  do  that  day  r 
*^.     He  bid  the  sun  and  moon  stand  still  to  lenj^hen 

out  tlie  day  for  his  victory,  and  they  obeyed  him.  Josh. 
X.12— 14. 

21  Q.  What  did  Joshua  do  with  the  five  kings  when 
he  took  them  ? 

*^.  He  called  the  captains  of  Israel  to  set  tlfeir  feet 
on  their  necks,  and  then  he  slew  tliem,  and  hanged  then* 
np  on  five  trees  before  tlie  Lord.    Josh,  x,9Ay  26, 


66  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Cliap.  g. 

22  Q.  Did  Joshua  proceed  to  conquer  the  whole 
country  ? 

Ji.  The  Israelites,  under  the  conduct  of  Joshua,  went 
on  till  they  had  slain  oVie  and  thirty  kings,  and  then  the 
people  rested  from  war  for  a  season.  Josh,  xi.  23,  and 
xii.  24. 

23  Q.  Where  was  the  tabernacle  first  set  up  after 
they  came  to  Canaan  ? 

Jl,  In  Shiloh,  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  at  some  dis- 
tance from  Jerusalem,  and  there  it  tarried  above  three* 
hundred  years,  even  till  the  days  of  Samuel.  Josh,  xviii. 
1.     1  8am.  i.  3. 

24  Q.    How  came  it  to  be  set  up  there  ? 

Ji.  By  the  appointment  of  God ;  for  it  is  said,  //e 
set  his  name  first  in  Shiloh,  Jer.  vii.  12.  See  Deut. 
xii.  5 — 16. 

25  ^.  How  was  the  land  of  Canaan  divided  among 
the  people  ? 

*^.  Reuben,  and  Gad,  and  half  the  tribe  of  Manasseh, 
had  their  inheritance  given  them  by  Moses  on  the  other 
side  Jordan,  and  Joshua  cast  lots  for  the  rest  of  the  tribes 
before  the  Lord  in  Shiloh.  JVunib.  xxxii.  Josh,  xiii.  7> 
8,  and  xviii.  10. 

26  Q.  Did  not  the  tribes  of  Reuben  and  Gad,  and 
half  Manasseh,  go  to  iielp  their  brethren  in  destroying 
the  Canaanites? 

J.  Yes ;  by  the  appointment  of  Moses,  they  weat 
over  Jordan  to  assist  their  brethren,  till  they  were  settled 
in  the  land.    JVumb.  xxxii.  16 — 33,  and  Josh.  i.  12 — 18. 

27  Q.  What  memorial  did  these  two  tribes  and  an 
half  leave  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  that  they  belonged  to 
the  nation  of  Israel  5 

^.  They  built  a  great  altar  upon  the  borders  of  Jor- 
dan, not  for  sacrifice,  but  merely  as  a  memorial  of  their 
interest  in  the  God  of  Israel,  in  the  tabernacle^  and  in  the 
worship  thereof.    Josh.  xxii. 

28  Q.    Where  was  the  tribe  of  Levi  disposed  of? 

^,  Toeing  devoted  to  the  service  of  the  tabernacle 
and  religion,  they  were  not  fixed  in  one  spot  of  ground, 
but  had  a  share  in  the  inheritance  of  every  tribe^  that 


Sect.  1.  SCRIPTITIE  HISTORY.  m 

they  mi^ht  teach  every  city  the  laws  of  God  and  their 
duty.    Josh.  xxi.  3. 

29  Q.     ^^  hat  did  Joshua  do  just  before  his  death  ? 
A.     He  summoned  the  people  togetlier,  and  made  a 

most  solemn  covenant  with  tliem,  that  tliey  should  sei-ve 
the  Lord.     Joi^h.  xxiii.  and  xxiv.  1 — 28. 

30  Q.  Did  the  Israelites  go  on  to  drive  out  the  in- 
habitants of  Canaan  after  the  deatli  of  Joshua  ? 

A.  Yes  ;  by  the  appointment  of  God,  the  tribe  of  Ju- 
dali  went  up  an;ainst  Bezek.     Jud^.  i.  1 — 4. 

31  ^.  What  did  tlie  Israelites  do  to  Adoni-bezek 
(or  the  kinp;  of  Bezek)  when  they  took  him  ? 

A.    They  cut  off'  his  thumbs  and  great  toes.  3ud^.  \.  6. 

32  ^.     What  remark  did  he  make  upon  it  x 

A.  He  confessed  tlie  justice  of  God  in  this  punish*^ 
ment,  for  he  had  cut  off  the  thumbs  and  5;reat  toes  of 
threescore  and  ten  kin;^s,  and  made  them  gather  meat 
under  his  table,     ver.  7. 

33  O.  Did  the  Israelite*  drive  all  the  Cajiaanites 
out  of  the  land  ? 

A.  No ;  for  there  were  some  left  for  several  hundred 
years  after  Joshua's  death  :  the  Jebusites  and  the  Philis- 
tines continued  till  the  days  of  David.     2  Sam,  v.  6,  17. 

34  Q.  Why  did  not  God  assist  Israel  to  drive  them 
all  out  ? 

A.  Because  Israel  did  not  obey  the  commands  of 
God,  and  some  of  the  Canaanites  were  left  to  prove  Is- 
rael, whether  they  would  obey  the  Lord,  and  to  be  as 
thorns  in  their  sides,  to  punisli  them  for  their  sins.  Josh, 
xxiii.  12,  13.     Judg.  ii.  3,  21,  and  iii.  1 — 4. 

33  <^.  What  were  the  most  common  sins  that  Israel 
was  guilty  of  after  their  settlement  in  Canaan  ? 

A.  They  fell  to  idolatry,  or  worshipping  tlie  gods 
of  tlie  nations  round  about  them,  after  Joshua  was  dead> 
and  the  elders  of  the  people  of  that  age  that  outlived 
Joshua.    Judg,'\u6  7  10 — 15. 


68  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  B. 

Sect.  If.     Of  the  Government  of  Israel  by  Judges. 

36  Q.  Who  governed  the  people  of  Israel  after  Josh- 
ua's deatli  ? 

J.  God  was  always  the  King  and  Ruler  of  Israel, 
and  under  him  the  several  tribes  probably  chose  their  own 
judges,  magistrates  and  officers,  according  to  the  appoint- 
ment of  Moses.  Exod.  xviii.  Lent.  i.  13.  Josh.  xxiv.  1, 

Nole.  These  officers,  or  judges,  Avhich  were  set  over  the 
people  by  Moses,  at  tlie  advice  of  Jethro,  were  at  first  chosen 
by  the  people  in  their  several  tribes,  just  after  they  came  out  of 
Egypt.  Exod.  xviii.  Moses  says  to  the  people,  Take  ye  wise 
men^  Sec.  Deuf.  i.  13.  The  seventy  or  seventy-two  elders, 
were  the  gravest  and  most  venerable  of  these  officers,  six  out  of 
every  tribe  ;  for  God  says  to  Moses,  Gather  to  me  seventy  men 
of  the  elders  of  Israel^  tvhoni  thou  knoivesf,  to  be  oncers  over 
thtm.  J^urah.  xi.  16.  These  were  to  meet  together,  and  con- 
sult upon  extraordinary  occasions,  as  when  a  sort  of  sedition 
was  raised  by  the  murmurings  of  the  people,  Kumh.  xi.  or  in 
such  like  cases  of  danger.^ 

The  high  priest  was  the  chief  counsellor,  and  sometimes  a. 
judge  ;  for  the  oracle  of  God  was  with  him,  and  he  was  sup- 
posed to  be  chiefly  skilled  in  the  laAV,  especially  if  he  were  an 
elderly  man.  The  common  priests  and  Levites  Avere  also  as- 
sistants to  the  judges,  by  way  of  counsel,  and  in  deciding  con- 
troversies in  every  tribe.  Deut.  xvii.  9 — 12.  But  still  the  ex- 
ecutive power  was  vested  in  the  judge  of  each  tribe,  and  God 
himself  was  their  King,  and  the  centre  of  union  and  govern- 
ment. 

But  when,  through  their  idolatry  and  wickedness,  God  for- 
sook the  people,  and  their  officers  and  judges  neglected  their 
duty,  the  people  sustained  the  iiiiseries  and  confusions  of  an 
anarchy,  as  it  is  several  times  expressed  in  the  book  of  Judges  ; 
There  was  no  king  in  Israel^  and  every  one  did  lohat  was  right 
in  his  own  eyes.  And  by  their  disunion  and  want  of  govern- 
ment they  were  weakened,  and  became  an  easy  prey  to  their 
enemies  round  about  them  :  but  at  particular  seasons  God  rais- 
ed them  up  extraordinary  judges  to  recover  them  from  slavery, 
and  to  restore  government  among  them  :  and  these  had  a  do- 
minion over  many,  or  all  the  tribes,  being  raised  up  eminently 
by  God  himself.  ' 

That  this  was  the  original  and  appointed  method  of  the  gov- 
ernment of  Israel,  as  I  have  described  it,  we  may  learn  partly 


.Sect.  2.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  69 

fKfmDeut.  i.  13,  where  the  officers  are  chosen,  and  Deut.  xvii. 
8 — 12,  and  xix.  16 — 18,  where  Mo.»es  appoints  the  business  ot* 
the  priests  and  the  judges  ;  and  partly  Trom  2  Chron.  xvii.  7 — 9, 
and  xix.  5 — 11,  where  Hezekiah  makes  a  reformation  tlirough- 
out  the  land,  and  appoints  the  judges  to  be  executors  of  jus- 
tice, the  priests  and  Levites  to  be  the  teachers  of  the  people, 
and  counsellors  to  the  judges,  and  the  high  yn-iest  to  be  the 
chief  counsellor :  and  sometimes  he  was  a  judge  also,  as  wa» 
before  intimated. 

37  Q.  Was  not  the  high  priest  their  ruler  under 
Go<l  r 

.?.  Tlie  higli  priest  seems  to  be  appointed  by  God 
and  Moses,  to  be  the  cliief  counsellor  in  declaring  the 
laws  and  statutes  of  God,  as  the  other  priests  were  also 
counsellors ;  but  the  executive  power  of  o:overnment  was 
rather  vested  in  those  who  were  called  judges,  whether 
tliey  were  ordifiary,  or  extraordinary.  Deut.  xvii.  9 — 12. 

.38  C^.  Di<l  these  onlinary  officere  do  justice,  and 
maintain  good  order  in  the  land  after  the  days  of  Josh- 
ua? 

•i.  We  have  very  little  account  of  them ;  but  it  is 
certain  they  did  not  fulfil  their  dul}-,  because  there  was 
sometimes  great  wickedness  among  the  people,  without 
restraint;  much  idolatry  and  mischief, both  public  and 
private,  and  that  for  want  of  government.  Jiul^.  xvii. 
0,  and  xxi.  25. 

39  q^.  Why  did  God,  the  King  of  Israel,  leave  his 
people  under  these  inconveniences? 

Ji.  As  thev  had  forsaken  God  and  his  laws,  so  God 
"teemed  sometunes  to  have  forsaken  the  care  of  them,  and 
'j;iven  them  up  to  the  confusicms  and  miseries  which  arise 
from  the  want  of  {government  for  a  season  ;  and  also 
suttered  their  enemies  on  every  side  to  make  inroads  up- 
on them,  and  bring  them  into  slavery.    Jud^;.  ii.  1 1 — 15. 

40  Q.  But  did  not  the  great  God  interpose  for  tlieir 
deliverance  ? 

•:/.  Sometimes  in  the  course  of  his  providence,  and 
i>y  s|)ecial  inspirsition,  he  raised  up  extraordinary  ju(lj:;cs 
10  rescue  them  from  the  haiul  of  tlieir  enemies,  and  U> 
vestore  jjovernment  among  them.    Jiidg,'\\.  16 — 19. 


7&  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.         Chap.  8. 

41  Q.  Who  were  some  of  the  most  remai'kable  of 
these  extraordinary  judges? 

J.  Ehud,  and -Sliamgar,  Deborah  and  Gideon,  Jeph- 
thali,  Samson,  and  Samuel. 

42  Q.     Who  was  Ehud  ? 

J.  A  man  of  Benjamin,  who  delivered  Israel  from 
the  oppression  of  Eglon  king  of  Moab.    Judg,  iii,  12, 15. 

43  Q.     How  did  he  deliver  them  ? 

»^.  By  bringing  a  present  to  Eglon,  and  then  stabbing 
him  with  a  dagger.    Judg,  iii.  16,  17. 

44  Q.  What  did  Shamgar  do  toward  their  delive- 
rance ? 

A,  He  rescued  Israel  from  the  oppression  of  the 
Philistines,  and  slew  six  hundred  of  them  with  an  ox'& 
goad.    Judg,  iii.  31. 

45  Q.     W  ho  was  Deborah  ? 

^i.  She  was  a  woman,  a  prophetess,  who  delivered 
Israel  from  the  tyranny  of  Jabin,  king  of  Canaan,  who 
liad  nine  hundred  chariots  of  iron.    Judg.  iv.  2, 4. 

46  Q.     How  did  she  deliver  Israel  from  his  hand  ? 
»^.     She  sent  forth  Barak  to  battle  against  him,  who 

routed  his  army,  which  was  commanded  by  Sisera  his 
general.      Judg.  iv.  5. 

47  Q.     How  was  Sisera  slain  ? 

•S.  By  the  hand  of  Jael,  a  woman,  who  when  he  came 
to  rest  himself  in  her  tent,  drove  a  nail  into  his  temples. 
Judg.  iv.  18 — 22. 

48  q.    Who  was  Gideon  ? 

^.  The  son  of  Joash  ;  he  was  called  by  an  angel,  or 
by  God  himself,  to  destroy  the  worship  of  Baal,  and  to 
deliver  Israel  from  the  hands  of  the  Midianites.  Judg. 
vi.  11^14. 

Jfote.  Gideon  liad  sufficient  evidence  that  this  was  a  mes- 
sage from  God  himself,  for  the  angel  talked  witli  liim  ;  and  when 
Gideon  had  fetched  some  flesh  and  cakes  to  entertain  him,  the 
angel  bid  him  lay  tliem  upon  a  rock,  and  pour  out  the  broth 
upon  them,  then  with  one  end  of  his  rod  the  angel  touchcd 
them,  and  lire  arose  and  consumed  them. 

49  Q.    How  did  he  begin  his  work  ? 


-cci.  2,  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  .1 

J.  He  first  threw  down  the  altar  of  Baal  the  idol  by 
uiglit,  and  cut  down  the  idolatrous  giove,  and  then  offer- 
ed a  sacrifice  to  the  Lord,  according  to  the  order  he  had 
received  from  God.     Jiidg.  vi.  25 — 28. 

50  Q.  Wliat  farther  sign  did  God  give  him  of  suc- 
cess? 

JL  At  his  request  God  made  a  fleece  o*'  wool  wet, 
when  the  ground  all  around  it  was  dry ;  and  again,  lie 
made  a  fleece  of  wool  dry,  when  the  ground  was  wet 
Judg.  vi.-Sb— 40. 

5 1  Q.  How  many  men  did  God  appoint  for  Gideon's 
army  r 

•S,  Out  of  thirty-two  tliousand  he  appointed  but  three 
hundred  men.     Judg.  vii.  3,  6,  7. 

52  ^.  How  did  three  hundred  men  conquer  Midian? 
v4.    Each  of  them,  by  Gideon's  order,  took  a  trumpet, 

and  a  pitcher  with  a  lamp  in  it,  and  coming  at  midnight 
on  the  camp  of  the  Midianites,  tliey  broke  their  pitchers, 
and  frighted  them  with  a  sudden  blaze  of  lamps,  the 
sound  of  tlie  trumpets,  and  loud  shouting.  Juag,  viL 
20—23. 

53  Q.  Did  Gideon  reign  over  Israel  after  this  great 
victory  ?  « 

Ji.  No ;  he  refused  it,  for  he  said  God  was  their  King. 
Judg,  viii.  23. 

54  Q.    Did  Gideon's  sons  govern  Israel  afterwards  ? 
•^.     None  of  Gideon's  threescore  and  ten  sons  set  up 

themselves,  but  Abimelech,  tlie  son  of  his  concubine,  made 
liimself  king.    Judg.  ix.  1,  fi,  6, 

55  Q.  How  did  Abimelech  advance  himself  to  the 
kingdom  r 

•tf.  He  slev/  all  his  tlireescore  and  ten  brothers  ex- 
cept tlie  youngest,  who  escaped.    Judg.  ix.  5. 

56  O.     How  was  Abimelech  slain  r 

A'  When  he  was  besieging  a  city,  a  woman  cast  a 
piece  of  millstone  upon  his  head?     Judg.  ix.  51 — 53. 

57  ^.    Who  was  Jephthah? 

»4.  A  miglity  man  of  valour,  who  delivered  Israel 
►  from  the  power* of  the  Ammonites,    Judg.  xi.  1,  32,  3  >. 

58  Q.    "What  was  remarkable  concerning  liim  r 


7%  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  8. 

»3.  He  made  a  rash  vow  to  saciifice  to  God  the  first 
thing  that  came  to  meet  him  after  his  victory,  and  that 
liappened  to  be  his  daughter  and  only  child.  Judg.  xi. 
.30,  31,  34. 

JVo/e.  It  is  a  matter  of  doubt  and  controversy  among  the 
learned  whether  Jephthah,  being  a  soldier,  in  those  days  of  igno- 
rance, did  not  really  offer  his  daughter  for  a  sacrifice,  according 
to  his  vow^  as  the  Scripture  seems  to  express  it ;  or  whether  he 
only  restrained  her  from  marriage  and  bearing  children,  which 
in  those  days  was  accounted  like  a  sacrifice,  and  as  a  sentence 
of  death  passed  on  them. 

59  Q.    Who  was  Samson? 

Ji.  The  son  of  Manoah,and  he  delivered  Israel  from 
the  hands  of  the  Philistines.     Judg,  xiii.  and  xiv.  &c. 

60  Q.    What  was  his  character  ? 

A,  He  was  the  strongest  of  men,  but  he  does  not 
f,eem  to  have  been  the  wisest  or  the  best. 

61  Q.    Wherein  did  his  strength  lie? 

A.  He  was  a  Nazarite,  devoted  to  God  from  his 
birth,  and  so  was  bound  to  let  his  hair  grow,  and  then 
God  wus  with  him ;  but  when  his  hair  was  cut,  God  left 
him.     Judg,  xiii.  7,  and  xvi.  17. 

62  Q.  What  instances  did  he  give  of  his  great 
strength  ? 

A.  He  tore  a  lion  asunder,  he  broke  all  the  cords 
with  which  he  was  bound,  he  slew  a  thousand  Philistines 
-with  the  jaw-bone  of  an  ass:  and  when  he  fell  in  love 
•with  a  harlot  in  Gaza,  and  the  Philistines  beset  the  city 
gates,  he  carried  away  the  gates  and  gate-posts  of  the 
city  with  him,  when  he  made  his  way  out  and  escaped. 
Judg.  xiv.  5,  6,  and  xv.  13,  14,  and  xvi.  S,  11,  13. 

63  Q.     What  befel  him  afterward  ? 

A.  He  fell  in  love  with  Delilah,  another  of  the  Pliilis- 
tine  women,  who  cut  off  his  hair,  and  then  she  betrayed 
him  to  the  Philistines,  who  put  out  his  eyes,  and  made 
him  grind  in  a  mill.    Judg,  xvi.  4 — 21. 

64  Q.    What  was  Samson's  end  ? 

Ji»  Thousands  of  the  Philistines  were  gathered  to- 
gether to  make  sport  with  Samson  ;  and,  in  order  to  re- 
venge himself  of  the  Philistiaes,  and  to  destroy  the  ene- 


JJtict.  i2.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  ?3 

mies  of  Israel,  he  pulled  the  house  down  upon   their 
heads  and  his  own.    Judg,  xvi.  30. 

65  Q.    Who  judged  Israel  after  Samson  ? 

J.  Eli  tlie  liigh  priest  is  said  to  judge  Israel  forty 
>ears;  but  he  is  not  supposed  to  be  one  of  the  extraor- 
dinary judges  who  delivered  them,  but  rather  that  he 
was  made  an  ordinary  magistrate,  perhaps,  over  some 
part  of  the  land.     1  Sam.  iv.  18. 

66  Q.  AVho  was  the  last  of  these  extraordinary 
judges? 

J.  Samuel  the  prophet,  the  son  of  Hannah,  a  pions 
woman,  who  had  no  child  before,  and  requested  of  God 
to  o;ive  her  one.     I  Sam.  i.  20. 

67  O.     What  is  written  in  honour  of  Hannah  ? 

A.  When  she  was  greatly  provoked  and  grieved  in 
spirit,  she  prayed  to  Goa  at  the  tabernacle,  and  she  went 
away  cheerful.     1  Sam.  i.  15 — 18. 

68  ^.     Where  was  Samuel  brought  up  ? 

Jl.  As  he  was  requested  of  tlie  Lord,  so  he  was  giv- 
en to  the  liord,  and  was  broudit  up  at  the  tabernacle  in 
Shiloh  under  the  care  of  Eli  the  high  priest  1  Sam.  j. 
22,  £8. 

69  ^.    What  was  Samuel's  office  ? 

Ji.  He  waited  on  the  service  of  the  tabernacle  as  a 
I^erite,  being  the  firet-born,  and  being  given  to  God.  I 
Sam.  ii.  18. 

70  Q.     Was  he  not  also  a  prophet? 

Jl.  Ves;  God  called  him  three  times  in  oHe  night 
when  he  was  a  cliild,  and  made  a  piophet  of  him,  and 
told  him  what  calamities  should  belall  the  house  of  Eli 
the  high  priest.    1  Sam.  iii.  4 — 14. 

7\   ({.     What  was  the  great  crime  of  Eli  ? 

Ji.  Though  he  loved  and  honoured  God  himself,  yet 
he  did  not  i\*strain  his  sons  from  wickedness.  1  Sam. 
lii.  \?>. 

r!2  ((,  In  what  manner  did  Goil  shew  his  displeas- 
ure against  the  house  of  Eli  ? 

A.     His  two  sons  were  slain  by  the  Philistines  in  bat- 
tle, and  the  liigh  •)>riest}iooil  went  into  another  branch  of 
\3roii\  HmilK.     1  Sam.  ii.  27 — 5(\     1  Kings  ii.  27. 
s 


74  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  8. 

7S  H,    What  became  of  Eli  himself? 

A»  When  he  heard  that  the  ark  of  God  was  taken  by 
the  Philistines  he  fainted  for  grief,  and  falling  down 
backward  he  brake  his  neck.     1  8am,  iv.  17,  18. 

74  q.  What  did  the  Philistines  do  with  the  ark  of 
God? 

A.  They  brought  it  into  the  house  of  their  idol,  Da- 
gon,  and  the  idol  fell  down  and  broke  off  his  head  and  his 
hands  upon  the  threshold.     1  Sam.  v.  2 — 5. 

75  Q.  What  punishment  did  the  Philistines  suffer 
for  keeping  the  ark  ? 

J.  In  several  cities  where  they  placed  it,  God  de- 
stroyed many  of  the  inhabitants,  and  smote  the  rest  with 
sore  diseases.     1  Sam,  v.  6 — 12. 

76  Q.     What  became  of  the  ark  then  ? 

A,  The  Philistines  put  it  into  a  new  cart  drawn  by 
two  milch  kine,  whose  calves  were  shut  up  at  home,  and 
yet  they  carried  it  directly  into  the  land  of  Israel  to 
Bethshemesh.     1  Sam.  vi.  12. 

77  Q.    What  did  the  men  of  Bethshemesh  do  ? 

•3.  They  looked  into  the  ark,  which  was  utterly  for- 
bidden, and  God  smote  many  of  them  with  a  great 
slaughter,  and  they  sent  the  ark  away  to  Kirjath-jeaiim. 
1  Sam.  vi.  19—21. 

78  Q.  How  did  Samuel  deliver  Israel  from  the  Phi- 
listines when  they  made  a  new  war  upon  them  ? 

^.  He  offered  a  burnt-offering,  and  prayed  to  the 
Lord,  and  God  fought  against  the  Philistines  with  thun- 
der from  lieaven,  and  scattered  and  destroyed  them. 
1  Sam,  vii.  9,  10,  13. 

79  Q.    How  did  Samuel  govern  the  people  ? 

•3.  He  travelled  through  the  land  every  year,  he 
judged  Israel  witli  great  honour  and  justice  for  many 
years;  but  in  his  old  age  he  made  his  sons  judges,  and 
they  oppressed  and  abused  tlie  people.  1  ^am.  viL 
15 — 17,  and  viii.  1 — 4,  and  xii.  1 — 5. 

80  Q.  What  was  the  request  of  the  people  on  this 
occasion? 

w3.  That  they  might  have  a  king  like  the  rest  of  the 
nations.    1  Sam.  viii.  5, 


Chap.  9.         SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  75 

81  Q.    What  did  Samuel  do  in  this  case  r 

J.    He  would  have  advised  them  a^aiust  it,  because 
was  tlieir  king,  but  thej  still  persisted  in  desiring 
a  man  for  a  king.     1  Sam,  viii.  6,  7,  19,  20. 

82  ((.     Did  Samuel  gratify  them  in  tliis  desire  ? 

*^.     Being  admonished  of  God  he  complied  with  their 
desire,,  and  appointed  a  king  over  them.     1  8'am.  viii.  22, 


CHAP.  IX. 

Of  the  Government  of  Israel  under  their  Kings  f  and 
first  of  Saul  and  David, 

1  Q.    Who  was  the  first  King  of  Israel  ? 

*i.  Saul,  a  very  tall  young  man,  the  son  of  Kish  a 
Benjamite.     1  Sam.  ix.  1,  2. 

2  Q.     How  did  Samuel  first  meet  with  him  ? 

A.  Saul  was  sent  by  his  father  to  seek  some  asses 
that  he  had  lost,  and  asking  Samuel  about  them,  Samuel 
took  him  aside  privately,  and  anointed  him  king  of  Is- 
rael.    1  Sam.  ix.  15 — 27,  and  x.  1—8. 

5  Q.     But  how  was  he  made  king  publicly  ? 

•^.  God  chose  and  determined  Saul  to  be  king  by 
casting  lots  among  the  tribes  and  families  of  Israel. 
]  .Sam.  x.  19 — 25. 
4  Q.  How  did  Saul  behave  himself  in  his  kingdom  i 
Ji.  He  governed  well  at  first  for  a  little  time,  but 
afterward  he  disobeyed  the  word  of  God  in  several  in- 
stances, and  God  rejected  him.     I  Sam.  xiii.  13,  and 

\v.2rj. 

.'5  Q.     Whom  did  God  clioose  in  his  room  ^ 

Jl.     David,  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  who  is  called  the  man 

after  God*s  own  heart.     1  Sam.  xvi.  1,  and  xiii.  14.  ^cts 

xiii.  22. 

6  <J.     Who  were  the  forefathers  of  David  r 

J?.  He  was  the  youngest  son  of  Jesse,  who  was  the 
son  of  Obed,  who  was  the  son  of  Boaz  by  Ruth  his  wife. 
Ruth  iv.  1 7—22. 


76  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  9, 

7  Q.    What  was  this  Ruth? 

•5.  She  was  a  woman  of  Moab,  and  slie  married 
Mahlon  a  Jew,  the  son  of  Naomi,  when  thej  came*ta 
sojourn  in  Moab,  because  of  a  famine  in  Israel.  Ruth 
i.  1—4. 

8  Q.     Did  Ruth  leave  the  country  of  Moab  ? 

*5.  Yes ;  after  her  husband  died  in  the  land  of  Moab,. 
she  followed  her  mother-in-law  Naomi  into  the  land  of 
Israel,  and  took  the  God  of  Israel  for  her  God.  Ruth  i. 
I6y  17. 

9  ^.  What  kind  providence  attended  her  in  the 
land  of  Israel? 

A,  Boaz,  a  ricli  man,  who  was  near  of  kin  to  her 
former  husband,  married  her,  and  so  she  became  the 
great-grandmother  of  David.    Ruth  iv.  16,  17. 

10  Q.    What  was  David's  employment  ? 

.^.  Being  the  youngest  son  of  a  large  family,  lie  was 
bred  up  to  keep  his  father's  sheep,     1  Sanu  xvi.  11. 

11  Q.  What  considerable  actions  did  he  do  while  he 
was  a  sheplierd  ? 

.4.  He  killed  a  lion  and  a  bear  who  came  to  rob  his^ 
father's  flock.     1  Sam.  xvii.  34. 

1 2  Q.     How  did  God  anoint  liim  to  be  king  ? 

»^.  He  sent  Samuel  secretly  to  anoint  him  with  oil 
at  Betlilehcm,  in  the  midst  of  his  brethren.  1  Saw. 
xvi.  13. 

13  Q.  How  did  David  make  his  first  appearance  at 
court? 

Jl.  David  understood  music,  and  when  the  evd  spirit 
of  melancholy  came  upon  Saul,  hearing  of  David's  skill 
in  music,  he  sent  for  liim  ixy  play  on  the  harp  to  refresh 
him.     1  Sam.  xvi.  16 — 23. 

14  Q.  What  remarkable  action  made  him  more  pub- 
licly known? 

JL  When  Goliath  the  giant'  challenged  the  men  of 
Israel,  David  undertook  the  combat,  and  slew  him  with 
a  sling  and  stone.     1  >Sa7?i.  xvii.  19—54. 

15  Q.     How  did  Saul  employ  him  afterwards  ? 

S»  He  sent  him  out  against  the  Philistines,  and  he 
slew  manv  thousands  of  them.     1  Sam.  xix.  8. 


Chap.  9.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  77 

16  Q.    How  came  Saul  then  to  bear  him  an  ill-will  ? 
A.     From  mere  envy,  because  the  women  of  Israel 

sung  to  their  instruments  of  music,  Saul  had  slain  his 
thousands,  and  Bavid  his  ten  thousands.  1  8am.  xviii. 
5,  6,  7. 

17  Q.    Wherein  did  Saul  discover  his  ill-will  to  him? 
A.     He  threw  a  javelin  at  him,  and  often  attempted 

to  kill  him.     1  Sam.  xviii.  21. 

1 8  Q.  Did  not  Saul  marry  his  second  daughter  Mi- 
chal  to  him  ? 

A.  Yes  ;  but  he  required  of  him  the  slaughter  of  a 
hundred  Philistines  instead  of  her  dowry,  hoping  that 
David  himself  would  be  slain  in  the  attempt.  1  Sam. 
xviii.  17 — 30. 

19  Q.  Who  then  were  the  friends  of  David  when 
the  king  was  his  enemy  ? 

A.  All  the  people  of  Israel  loved  him,  and  so  did 
Jonathan  the  son  ot  Saul,  who  skreened  him  often  from 
his  father's  malice.     1  Sam.  xviii.  5,  and  xix.  2. 

20  Q.  But  how  could  David  escape  so  long  when 
Saul  ordered  his  servants  to  kill  him  ? 

A.  He  fled  from  place  to  place  in  the  land  of  Israel, 
and  was  hunteil  like  a  partndge  on  the  mountains,  till 
at  last  he  was  forced  to  hide  himself  twice  amon^ 
the  Pliilistines.  1  Sanu  xxi.  10,  and  xxvi.  20,  and 
xxvii.  1. 

21  q.    What  did  he  do  there? 

A.  When  he  was  at  Gath  the.  first  time,  he  feigned 
himself  mad,  lest  Achish  tlie  king  of  (Jath  should  kill 
him.     1  Sam.  xxi.  12,  13. 

22  q.  Ho^v  did  David  save  his  father's  hoose  from 
SauPs  rage  ? 

J.  Kc  desired  the  king  of  Moab  to  let  his  father  and 
his  mother  dwell  there,  but  he  himself  went  into  the  land 
of  Judah.     1  Sam.  xxii.  1 — 5. 

23  Q.  How  did  Saul  further  manifest  his  rage  against 
David? 

A.     He  slew  fourscore  and  five  persons  of  tlie  priests 
of  the  Lord,  because  he  supposed  they  had  concealed 
ft* 


78  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.         Chap.  9. 

David,  and  did  not  tell  the  king  where  he  was.     1  Sam. 
xxii.  17,  18. 

24  Q.  Had  David  any  army  under  his  command  at 
that  time  ? 

^.  Yes  ;  he  had  gathered  together  about  four  hun- 
dred men,  which  grew  in  a  little  time  to  six  hundred. 
1  Sam.  xxii.  2,  and  xxiii.  13. 

25  q.     Did  David  fight  with  Saul  all  this  time  ? 

•i.  No ;  he  avoided  him,  and  fled  from  him  continu- 
ally, by  shifting  his  place  whensoever  Saul  pursued  him ; 
and  at  last  was  forced  to  go  into  the  land  of  the  Philis- 
tines again.     1  Sam.  xxiii.  and  xxiv.  and  xxvii. 

26  q.     Did  David  never  attempt  to  kill  Saul  ? 

*^.  No ;  but  he  spared  his  life  twice  when  he  had  it 
in  his  power  to  kill  him.  1  Sam.  xxiv.  7,  8,  10,  11,  and 
xxvi.  11,  12,  &c. 

27  Q.  Had  this  kindness  of  David  no  influence  to 
soften  the  heart  of  Saul  toward  him  ? 

»9.  Yes  ;  it  did  for  the  present ;  but  Saul's  envy  and 
malice  were  so  rooted  in  his  heart,  that  they  prevailed 
above  all  the  principles  of  kindness  and  gratitude.  1 
Sam.  xxiv.  16 — 21,  and  xxvi.  1 — 3,  and  xxvii.  1. 

28  Q.     What  became  of  Saul  at  last  ? 

•^.  The  Philistines  invaded  Israel,  and  Saul  was  in 
great  distress,  because  God  gave  him  no  directions,  nor 
answered  him  by  dreams,  nor  by  the  priests  nor  prophets. 
1  Sam.  xxviii.  4 — 6. 

29  Q.    What  did  Saul  do  then  P 

•/}.  He  inquired  of  a  woman  who  had  a  familiar 
spirit,  and  there  he  was  told  by  an  apparition  of  some- 
thing in  the  shape  of  Samuel,  that  he  and  his  sons  should 
die  on  the  morrow.     1  Sam.  xxviii.  8,  19. 

30  Q.     Did  this  come  to  pass  ? 

.5.  Yes ;  the  Philistines  slew  several  of  his  sons,  and 
wounded  him  sorely  in  the  battle,  and  then  he  fell  upon 
Jiis  own  sword,  and  slew  himself.     1  Sam.  xxxi.  3,  4. 

31  Q.     Where  was  David  all  this  while  ? 

^.  He  was  fled  the  second  time  to  Achish  king  of 
Gath,  and  he  had  been  just  then  employed  in  destroying 
the  Amalekites,  who  had  plundered  the  eity  of  Ziklag, 


Chap.  9.         SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  79 

wliere  he  dwelt,  and  had  carried  away  his  wives.    1 
Sam.  XXX.  16—20. 

52  Q.  Did  not  David  ofter  his  service  to  the  Philis- 
tines ? 

J.  Yes  ;  but  he  always  avoided  fijjhting  asjainst  tlie 
Israelites ;  and  besides,  the  lords  ol  the  PhHistines  at 
this  time  would  not  sufter  him  to  continue  in  tlieir  army : 
which  was  done  by  the  kind  providence  of  God,  that 
David  mi^ht  not  figlit  against  Israel.  1  Sam.  xxvii. 
H — 11,  and  xxxix.  4,  and  2  Sam.  i.  1. 

53  O.     What  did  David  do  upon  the  death  of  Saul  ? 

Ji.  He  made  a  very  fine  elegy  upon  him  and  Jona- 
than his  son,  and  went  up  to  Hebron,  a  city  of  Judah, 
by  God's  direction,  where  the  men  of  Judah  made  him 
their  king.     2  Sam.  ii.  1 — 4. 

34  ({.  Who  then  reigned  over  the  rest  of  the  tribes 
of  Israel ? 

Ji.  Ishbosheth,  another  of  the  sons  of  Saul.  2  Sam. 
ii.  8,  9. 

35  O.     How  came  Ishbosheth  to  lose  tlie  kingdom  ? 
wJ.     He   quarrelled   with  Abner   the   general  of  his 

army,  whereupon  Abner  joined  with  David  ;  and  after 
tliis,  two  of  Ishbosheth's  own  servants  slew  him  in  hia 
bed.     2  Sam.  ii.  7 — 10,  17,  18,  and  iv.  5,  7. 

36  Q.     How  long  did  David  reign  in  Hebron  ? 

A.  Seven  years  and  an  half;  and  tlien  all  Israel 
came  to  him  and  chose  him  for  their  king,  and  brought 
liim  up  to  Jerusalem.     2  Sam.  v.  1 — 6. 

37  ^.  What  was  the  first  thing  David  did  when  he 
came  to  Jerusalem  ? 

^.  He  took  the  strong  hold  of  Zion  from  the  Jebu- 
sites,  who  had  iield  it  to  that  day,  and  called  it  the  city 
of  David.     2  Sam.  v.  6^9. 

38  ^.     Where  was  the  ark  of  God  all  this  while  ? 
Jl.    At  Kirjathjearim,  whence  David  now  fetched  it 

up  by  God's  direction  to  Jerusalem  in  triumph,  and 
placed  it  in  Zion.     2  Sam.  vi.  1 — 17.  1  Chron.  xiii.5,  6. 

39  Q.  What  was  David's  pious  design  toward  the 
ark  of  God  ? 

A.     He  had  a  mind  to  build  a  house  for  the  ark  of 


80  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  9. 

God,  which  had  hitherto  dwelt  in  curtains.     2  Sam»  vii» 
2,  3. 

40  Q,    Did  God  encourage  him  to  proceed  in  it  ? 

^.  No ;  God  did  not  encourage  him,  because  he  had 
shed  much  blood  ;  but  he  promised  that  he  should  have 
a  son,  who  should  build  him  an  house.    2  Sam.  vii.  2,  3. 

41  Q.    Had  Da\dd  no  wars  after  this.*^ 

A.  Yes;  he  had  many  battles,  and  was  victorious 
over  his  enemies  round  about  him  ;  namely,  the  Philis- 
tines and  Moabites,  the  Syrians  and  Edomites,  &c.  2 
Sam,  viii.  I — 14. 

42  Q.    How  did  David  govern  Israel  ? 

.5.  He  executed  judgment  and  justice  among  all  the 
people.     2  Sam.  viii.  15. 

43  ({.  What  were  the  chief  blemishes  of  David's 
life? 

•(3.  His  adultery  with  Bathsheba  the  wife  of  Uriah, 
and  his  pride  in  numbering  the  people  of  Israel. 

44  Q.  How  came  David  to  fall  in  love  with  Bath- 
sheba ? 

A.  David  from  the  top  of  his  house  happened  to  see 
her  washing  herself,  and  sent  for  her  and  defiled  her. 
2  Sam.  xi.  4. 

45  Q.     What  aggravation  attended  this  sin  ? 

A.  Besides  the  heinous  crime  of  adultery  in  the  sight 
of  God,  here  was  vile  ingratitude  and  base  carriage  to- 
wards Uriah,  who  at  that  time  was  abroad  fighting  for 
him  against  the  Ammonites.     2  Sam,  xi.  6. 

46  Q.  How  did  he  try  to  hide  it  from  Uriah  and 
from  the  world  ? 

w3.  When  he  could  not  persuade  Uriah  to  go  to  his 
_own  house,  he  sent  an  order  to  Joab  his  general,  that  he 
should  set  Uriah  in  the  hottest  place  of  the  battle,  and 
retire  from  him  and  leave  him  to  be  slain.  2  Sam,  xi.  15, 

47  Q.  What  followed  upon  the  death  of  Uriah  which 
David  had  thus  contrived  ? 

A,  David  added  Bathsheba  to  the  rest  of  his  wives, 
and  she  bare  him  a  son.    2  Sam.  xi.  27. 

48  Q.    How  was  David  convinced  of  his  sin  ? 

A,    By  an  ingenious  parable  of  Nathan  the  prophet, 


Ctiap.  9.         SCRIPTURtr  HISTORV.  8t 

concerning  a  rich  man  who  robbetl  \\\^  neighbour  of  an 
ewe-lamb,  thougli  he  had  large  flocks  of  his  own.  2  Sam. 
xu.  1—8. 

49  Q.  How  (lid  Gotl  testify  his  displeasure  against 
David  for  his  sin  ? 

.'?.  He  struck  the  child  that  was  born  with  sickness 
and  death,  and  threatened  David  that  the  sword  should 
never  depart  from  his  house,  and  that  his  own  wives 
should  be  publicly  abused.     2  Sam.  xii.  9 — 14. 

JVofe.  David  tcj-fifiod  Iiis  deep  rrjTcntance  for  this  sin  in  the 
fifty-first  Psalm,  and  perhaps  also  in  some  others  ;  yet  God  saw 
it  proper  to  punish  him  severely,  because  he  had  given  the  cnc- 
mies  of  God  occasion  to  blaspheme.     2  Sam.  xii.  14. 

50  Q.  What  were  some  of  the  chief  troubles  that 
actually  came  on  David's  family  on  this  account  ? 

*^.  The  troubles  ^hat  he  met  witli  from  three  of 
his  sons,  namely,  Amnon,  Absalom,  and  Adonijah. 

51  ^.*  AVhat  was  the  trouble  he  met  with  Irom  Am- 
non ? 

^.  Amnon  defiled  his  sister  Tamar  by  force,  upon 
which  Absalom  slew  him,  and  then  fled  out  of  the  land 
for  fear  of  justice,     2  Sam.  xiii.  14,  28,  37. 

52  O.     Did  Absalom  never  return  again  ? 

•^.  Yes ;  Absalom  returned  after  two  years,  when 
David  was  pacified,  and  by  his  subtil  carriage  he  raised 
a  rebellion  against  the  king  his  father,  and  made  himself 
king.     2  Sam.  xiv.  and  xv. 

53  Q.  What  followed  upon  tliis  wicked  practice  of 
Absalom  ? 

J.  David  being  forced  to  flee  from  Jerusalem,  Ab- 
salom entered  the  city,  and  defiled  His  father's  concu- 
bines publicly.     2  Sam.  xv.  14,  and  xvi.  21. 

54  ({.  W  ho  was  Absalom's  cliief  counsellor  in  this 
rebellion  r 

Jl.  Ahitophel,  who,  when  he  saw  that  his  last  counsel 
was  not  followed,  went  hon»e  and  hanged  himself.  2 
'<am.  xvii.  23. 

.)5  ^.    Wliat  became  of  Absalom  at  last  ? 

•1    As  he  was  riding   under  an  oak  in  the  day  of 


8£  SCRIPTURE!  HISTORY.        Chap.  9. 

battle,  he  was  caught  by  the  hair  of  the  head,  and  hung 
between  heaven  and  earth.  Where  Joab,  David's  general, 
found  him  and  stabbed  him  to  the  heart,  2  Sam.  xviii. 
9, 14,  and  thus  put  an  end  to  his  rebellion  and  his  life. 

56  Q.  What  was  the  other  remarkable  crime  of  Da- 
vid, besides  his  abuse  and  murder  of  Uriah  ? 

J,  The  pride  of  his  heart  in  numbering  all  the  people 
of  the  tribes  of  Israel,  that  he  might  know  how  great  a 
king  he  was.     2  Sam.  xxiv.  2. 

57  Q.     How  was  he  punished  for  this  sin  ? 

J.  God  gave  him  leave  to  choose  one  of  these  three 
punishments,  either  seven  years  famine,  or  three  months 
of  war,  or  three  days  pestilence.     2  Sam,  xxiv.  1 3. 

58  Q.     Which  did  David  choose  ? 

J.  The  famine  or  the  pestilence,  rather  than  war; 
for  he  chose  rather  to  fall  into  tlie  hands  of  God  than  of 
man.     2  Sam.  xxiv.  14, 

59  Q.  Which  of  these  two  judgments  did  God  send 
upon  the  land  P 

J.  A  pestilence  that  destroyed  seventy  thousand  men 
in  three  days  time.    ver.  15. 

60  Q.    How  was  this  pestilence  stopped  ? 

^.  When  David  saw  the  angel  of  the  Lord  stand  be- 
tween heaven  and  earth,  having  a  drawn  sword  in  his 
hand  stretched  out  over  Jerusalem,  he  and  the  elders  of 
Israel  fell  upon  their  faces  clothed  in  sackcloth;  and 
David  confessed  his  crime,  and  prayed  that  the  anger  of 
God  might  fall  on  himself,  rather  than  on  the  people.  1 
Chron.  xxi.  15,  16. 

61  Q.  How  did  God  manifest  his  acceptance  of 
him  ? 

Ji.  He  bid  the  prophet  Gad  order  David  to  build  an 
altar ;  and  offer  sacrifices  on  that  very  spot  of  ground 
on  the  threshing-floor  of  Oman  ;  and  when  David  pray- 
ed, fire  came  from  heaven  and  consumed  the  sacrifices. 
1  Chron.  xxi.  21  — 26 . 

62  Q.  What  was  the  trouble  that  David  met  with 
from  his  son  Adonijah  ? 

J.  When  David  was  old,  Adonijah  set  himself  up 
for  king.     1  Kings  i.  1,  5.. 


Chap.  9.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  8S 

63  Q.    How  came  Adonijah  to  be  so  insolent  i 

Ji,  His  father  humoured  him  too  much  all  his  life,  and 
never  displeased  him.  ver.  6. 

64  Q.     What  did  David  do  under  this  trouble  ? 

•3.  He  proclaimed  Solomon  the  son  of  Bathsheba, 
kin^  in  his  own  life-time ;  and  Zadock  the  priest,  and 
Naman  the  prophet,  anointed  him  king  of  Israel,  ver.  34, 
38,  39. 

65  Q.  Why  was  Solomon  preferred,  when  he  was  a 
younger  brother  ? 

A.  Because  God  chose  him  to  the  kingdom,  and  gave 
David  some  notice  of  it.  1  Chron.  xxii.  8 — 10,  and 
xxviii.  5 — 7. 

66  Q.    What  became  of  Adonijah  ? 

A.  He  submitted  to  Solomon,  who  spared  him  for 
that  time,  though  for  a  new  fault  he  put  him  to  death  af- 
terwards, ver,  50,  53,  and  ii.  2,  24. 

67  Q.    How  long  did  David  reign  in  all  ? 

A.  Forty  years,  and  then  he  died  in  his  bed  in  peace. 
1  Kings  ii.  10,  11. 

68  Q.  W^hat  were  David's  remarkable  characters, 
l)csides  that  of  a  musician,  a  warrior,  and  a  king  ? 

A.  He  was  a  great  poet  and  a  prophet.  Q  Sam,  xxiii. 
1,2. 

69  Q.    Wherein  did  his  skill  in  poesy  appear? 

•9.  Not  only  in  his  admirable  elegy  on  Saul  and 
Jonathan,  but  on  several  occasions ;  he  wrote  the  most 
part  of  the  book  of  Psalms,  which  are  the  finest  pieces  of 
ancient  poesy,  and  he  was  called,  the  sweet  Fsalmist  of 
Israel.    2  Sam,  xxiii.  1. 

70  Q.  Wherein  doth  it  appear  that  he  had  the  gift 
of  prophecy  ? 

jf.  Because  these  Psalms  were  written  by  divine  in- 
spiration, for  in  some  of  them  thei*c  are  many  things  ev- 
idently foretold  concerning  Christ.  Luke  xxiv.  44. 
Acts  ii.  29,  30. 

71  Q.  What  further  evidences  are  tliere  of  his  being 
a  prophet  ? 

Jl,  He  had  a  particular  revelation  made  to  him  by 
the  spirit  of  God,  of  the  pattern  of  the  temple,  which 


M  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  i{) 

Solomon  his  son  was  to  build,  and  of  the  orders  of  the 
priests  and  Levites»  and  of  several  things  relating  to  the 
worship  of  God,  which  he  gave  to  his  son  Solomon.  1 
Chron.  ^xy'm.  11—13,  19. 

72  Q.  What  did  David  do  towards  the  building  of 
this  temple  before  his  death  ? 

*5.  He  made  a  vast  preparation  of  gold  and  silver, 
and  jewels,  and  other  materials,  and  gave  the  pattern  of 
every  thing  to  his  son  Solomon,  as  he  received  it  of  God. 
1  Cnron.xxii.  5, 14,  and  xxviii.  11,  19,  and  xxix.  2. 


CHAP.  X. 

Of  the  Reign  of  Solomon  and  JRehohoam  over  all 
Israel,  and  the  Division  of  the  JVation  into  two 
Kingdoms. 

1  Q.    What  was  the  general  character  of  Solomon  ? 
►3.    That  he  was  the  wisest  of  men.     1  Kings  iii.  12, 

an^i  iv.  31. 

2  Q.     Wherein  did  his  wisdom  towards  God  appear? 

•5.  In  that  he  asked  not  long  life,  nor  riches,  nor  hon- 
ours, but  understanding  and  knowledge  to  govern  so 
great  a  people.     1  Kings  iii.  7,  &c. 

3  Q.  What  was  the  first  instance  of  his  wisdom  in 
the  government  ? 

A.  His  deciding  the  quarrel  between  two  women  who 
contended  about  a  child,  and  in  giving  the  child  to  the 
true  mother.     1  Kings  iii.  16 — 28. 

4  Q.     How  did  he  find  out  the  true  mother  ? 

A.  He  commanded  the  child  to  be  divided  in  two, 
that  each  woman  might  have  half:  then  the  tenderne'ss  and 
love  of  the  true  mother  appeared,  in  yielding  up  her 
pretensions  to  it,  rather  than  see  it  divided.  1  Kings 
iii.  25. 

5  ^.  What  special  care  did  Solomon  take  for  the 
worship  of  God  ? 

.4,    He  built  that  temple  for  which  David  had  made 


Chap.  10.       SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Sj 

so  large  a  preparation.  It  was  a  most  glorious  palace, 
built  of  cetiar  and  fir,  and  olive  wood,  and  hewn  stone, 
with  most  amazing  expense  of  cold  and  silver,  and  brass, 
and  precious  stones,  both  for  the  adorning  of  the  house 
itself,  and  for  the  holy  vessels  thereof.  1  Kin^s  vi.  and 
vii.  He  built  also  two  distinct  courts  about  it,  one  for 
the  people  of  Israel,  and  one  for  the  priests,  all  which 
were  called  the  temple.  2  Kings  xxiii.  12,  and  2  Chroru 
iv.  9. 

J^'oie.  In  this  temple  of  Solomon  there  doe?:  not  seem  to  be 
any  court  of  the  Gentiles^  but  only  th«  court  of  the  priests^  in 
which  the  house  of  God  or  sanctuary  stood,  and  the  court  of 
the  people^  to  which  all  Israel  resorted  :  nor  can  I  find  the 
Gentiles  forbidden  by  any  express  w^ord  of  God.  See  2  Chron. 
vi.  32.  One  was  the  outer  court,,  and  the  other  the  inner  court. 
2  Chron.  iv.  9,  and  1  Kings  vi.  36.  Nor  were  the  people  ex- 
cluded from  the  inner  court.  See  2  Chron.  xxxiii.  10.  In  the 
second  temple,  which  was  built  by  Zerubbabel,  after  the  cap- 
tivity, we  do  not  read  of  any  court  of  the  GentHts  at  the 
building  of  it.  But  in  following  years,  when  there  were 
more  frequent  communications  and  transactions  with  Gentiles, 
there  was  a  partition  made,  called  C/ie/,  to  divide  them  from 
ihe  Jews,  and  the  other  part  of  the  outer  court  was  left  for  the 
Gentiles.  In  the  temple  which  Herod  built,  and  which  was  in 
our  Saviour^s  time,  there  was  a  court  made  on  purpose  for  the 
Gentiles,  and  those  Jews  which  were  unclean.  But  this  divi- 
sion does  not  sufficiently  appear  to  be  of  divine  appointment, 
though  it  must  be  confessed,  the  partition  wall^  in  Eph.  ii.  14, 
seems  to  refer  to  it. 

6  Q.    In  what  form  did  he  buUd  it  ? 

A.  In  imitation  of  the  tabernacle  of  Moses  and  the 
court  thereof,  but  with  vast  and  univenial  improvement 
in  the  grandeur,  riches,  and  magnificence  of  it,  bj  the 
pattern  that  David  his  father  received  from  Gotl,  and 
gave  to  him.     1  Chron,  xxii.  5,  and  xxviii.  11,  19. 

7  Q.     On  what  spot  of  ground  did  he  build  it  ? 

A.    On  Mount  Moriah,  not  verv  far  from  Mount  Zi- 

i  i u- Jerusalem :   it  was  the  place  where  Abraham  was 

called  to  ofter  his  son  Isaac,  and  where  God  appeared  to 

Daviii  when  he  stopped  the  pestilence.     2  Chron.  iii.  I, 

and  Gen.  xxii.  2,  and  gave  lum  a  miraculous  token  of  his; 

0 


86  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.         €liap.  10. 

acceptance,  by  fire  from  heaven  consuming  his  sacrifice. 
1  Cnron.  xxi.  20. 

J^ote.  Though  the  temple  was  built  on  Mount  Moriah,  yet 
the  name  of  Zion  is  still  preserved  by  the  following  holy  wri- 
ters, as  the  place  of  the  sanctuary ;  partly  because  David  had 
written  so  much  in  his  Psalms  concerning  Zion,  v/here  the  ark 
and  tabernacle  stood  in  his  days,  and  made  the  name  familiar 
to  the  people  ;  and  partly  because  Zion  was  literally  the  city 
of  David,  and,  in  a  typical  sense,  the  city  or  residence  of  Christ. 
And  indeed  Zion  and  Moriah  may  be  accounted  but  two  dis- 
tinct heads  of  the  same  mountain  ;  and  though  there  was  a  val- 
ley between  them,  Solomon  joined  them  by  a  bridge,  that  he 
might  easily  pass  from  his  palace  in  Zion  to  the  temple.  Jose- 
phus  makes  mention  of  it  more  than  once. 

8  Q.    How  did  Solomon  dedicate  this  temple  to  God? 
J,    By  assembling  all  the  men  of  Israel,  by  bringing 

[hither  the  ark  and  the  holy  things  from  Zion,  by  a  de- 
vout prayer  to  God,  by  music  and  praises,  by  a  feast  of 
seven  days,  and  a  vast  number  of  sacrifices.  1  Kings 
viii.  and  2  Chron.  vi.  and  vii. 

9  Q.  In  what  manner  did  God  shew  his  approbation 
of  it? 

A,  He  filled  the  house  with  a  cloud  of  glory,  to  rep- 
resent his  taking  possession  of  it ;  he  sent  fire  down  from 
heaven  to  consume  the  sacrifices ;  and  he  appeared  in 
the  night  to  Solomon,  and  assured  him  lie  had  heard  his 
prayer,  and  chosen  that  place  for  a  house  of  sacrifice  to 
liimseU^    2  Chron,  \ii,  I — 3,  12. 

JO  Q.     Wherein  did  God  bless  the  reign  of  Solomon  ? 

A.  By  giving  him  prodigious  treasures  and  magnifi- 
cent state,  and  spreading  the  fame  of  his  greatness  and 
wisdom  over  all  nations.     1  Kings  x. 

11  ^.  What  peculiar  honours  were  done  to  him  on 
ithis  account  ? 

A,  The  princes  round  about  him  coveted  his  friend- 
^ip,  and  gave  him  their  assistance  and  many  prcdents, 
and  the  queen  of  Sheba  came  to  visit  him.  1  Kings  ix. 
and  X. 

J2  Q^    What  satisfaction  did  she  find  in  this  visit  ? 


Chap.  10.        SCRIPTURE  IIISTOIip  A';  8r 

A.     Slie  was  astonished  at  the  sightW^fiW  grandeur 
and  wisdom,  and  confessed  that  the  one\kW  Of  it  was-  /  Aj 
not  told  lier.     1  Kin^s  x.  1—10.  ^   *  ,        _       '* 

13  Q.  Wherein  did  Solomon  displease  God  iafter- 
wards  r 

A,  In  process  of  time  he  forgot  his  great  obligations 
to  God ;  lie  took  wives  and  concubines  in  multitudes, 
and  tliat  out  of  the  idolatrous  nations  ;  and  by  them  his 
heart  was  so  far  led  away  after  other  cods,  that  he  built 
places  of  worship  for  them  very  near  Jerusalem,  and  of- 
iered  sacrifices  to  tiiem.    See  1  Kings  xi.  I — 9. 

14  Q.     How  did  God  punish  him  for  itr 

A,  He  stirred  up  several  enemies  against  him,  and  par- 
ticularly Jeroboam,  his  own  servant.  See  1  Kings  xi. 
14,  23,  26. 

15  Q.  Wliat  was  Jeroboam's  own  pretence  for  dis- 
turbing the  government  ? 

A.  The  building  of  some  expensive  palace  for  Pha- 
raoh's daughter,  who  was  his  queen,  and  the  raising  heavy 
taxes  for  tliat  and  other  buildings.  1  Kings  ix.  24,  xi. 
:r,  xii.  4. 

A'ofe.  Jeroboam  doth  not  appear  to  charg:e  Solomon  with 
promoting;  idolatry,  or  with  breaking  the  laws  of  God  in  divine 
worship ;  for  he  himself  did  so  afterwards^  when  he  was  king  of 
l«rael;  Avhich  was  a  high  provocation  in  the  eyes  of  God,  both 
n  Solomon  and  Jeroboam. 

1 0  Q.  And  how  f\ir  did  God  encourage  Jeroboam  in 
I  ids  opposition  to  Solomon  ? 

A,  Abijah  the  prophet,  being  sent  of  God,  caught 
hold  of  Jeroboam's  garment  when  he  met  him  in  the 
field,  and  ivnt  it  into  twelve  pieces,  and  gave  ten  of  theni 
10  Jerob3am.     1  Kings  xi.  29,  &c. 

17  Q.     AVhat  was  the  meaning  of  tliis  r 

A.  The  prophet  told  him,  that  God  had  given  him 
;cn  of  the  tribes  of  Israel,  an<l  had  left  the  posterity  ot 
Solomon  one  tribe,  that  is,  Ju<lah  and  Benjamin,  >\hic]) 
were  afterwards  united  intb  opf  under  the  name  of  Jews. 
1  l&ngs  xi.  31,  and  xii.  20,  2i,  and  2  Chroiu  xi.  12. 

18  ({.     Was  this  fulfilled  in  Solomon's  day?  r 


88 


SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  10, 


A.  No;  for  it  pleased  God  to  M'ithhoW  these  calam- 
ities from  the  house  of  Solomon  till  the  days  of  his  son. 
ver.  23. 

19  ^.  Did  Solornon  ever  repent  of  his  sins  that  pro- 
voked the  anger  of  God  against  him  ? 

A,  It  is  generally  supposed  that  the  book  of  Ecclesi- 
astes  is  a  sort  of  proof  that  Solomon  repented,  because 
he  there  describes  the  vanity  of  every  labour  and  every 
enjoyment  under  the  sun,  and  sums  up  all  in  the  Fear 
df  God  and  keeping  his  commandments,  as  the  whole 
duty  and  chief  interest  of  man.  Mccle.  i.  and  ii.  and 
xii.  13,  14. 

£0  Q,    How  long  did  Solomon  reign  ? 

J.  Forty  years ;.  and  thougli  he  had  such  a  shameful 
number  of  wives  and  concubines,  yet  he  left  but  o"ne  son 
behind  him,  whose  name  was  Rehoboam,  to  succeed  him 
in  the  kingdom  of  Israel.     1  Kings  xi.  3,  43. 

21  Q,     What  ^^'as  the  character  of  Rehoboam  ? 

A,  Though  Solomon  had  written  so  many  excellent 
lessons  of  morality  and  piety  for  his  son  in  the  book  of 
Proverbs,  and  given  him  so  many  warnings,  yet  he  fol- 
lowed evil  courses  ;  and  Solomon  himself  seems  to  inti- 
mate it  in  the  book  of  Ecclesiastes,  Chap.  ii.  19.  Who 
Icnoiveth  whether  his  son  will  be  a  wise  man  or  a  fool? 

22  (J.  What  further  occasion  did  Rehoboam  give 
for  the  revolt  of  the  tribes  of  Israel  from  him  ? 

A .  Upon  tlie  death  of  his  father,  and  his  accession 
to  the  throne,  he  despised  the  counsel  of  the  old  men, 
and  hearkened  to  the  advice  of  rash  young  men ;  he 
threatened  the  nation  of  Israel  to  w.ake  their  yoke  heav- 
ier  than  his  father  had  done,  that  is,  to  lay  heavier  taxes 
upon  them.     1  Mngs  xii.  8,  &c. 

23  ,Q.  What  followed  upon  this  threatening  of  king 
Uehoboam  ? 

Ac  All  the  tribes  of  Israel,  except  Judah  and  Benja- 
n\in,  made  Jeroboam  their  king:  and  thus  the  nation  was 
divided  into  two  kingdoms,  which  were  afterwards  called 
die  kingdom  of  Judah,  and  tke  kingdom  of  Israel.  1 
/t'ii/o'S  xii.  15,  20.     2  Chron,  xi.  1 1>  12. 


Chap.  11.        SCRIPTURE  ills  i  UK V'.  89 

CHAP.  XI. 

Of  the  Kings  of  IsraeL 

1  Q.  How  many  kin»9  reigned  over  Israel  after  they 
were  separated  from  Judah  ? 

A.  'I'hese  nineteen,  and  not  one  of  them  were  good ; 
Jeroboam  the  first,  Nadab,  Baashah,  Elah,  Zimii,  Omri, 
Aliab,  Ahaziah,  .lehoram,  Jehu,  Jehoahaz,  Joash,  Jerobo- 
am the  second,  Zachariah,  Shallum,  Menaliem,  Pekahiah» 
Pekah  and  Hoshea. 

2  Q.  Wlio  were  the  most  remarkable  among  these 
kinj«5  of  Israel  ? 

A.  Jeroboam  the  first,  Omri,  Ahab,  Ahaziah,  Jehu, 
Joash,  Pekah,  and  Hoshea. 

3  ({.  What  was  the  chief  character  and  crime  of 
Jeroboam  ? 

•4.  Instead  of  worshipping  God  who  dwelt  betweea 
the  cherubs  in  the  temple  at  Jerusalem,  he  made  two 
golden  images,  wliich  are  called  calves,  and  set  tliem  up 
jn  two  distant  parts  of  the  land  of  Israel,  namely,  Dan 
and  Bethel,  and  tauglit  the  people  to  worslup  before  theui. 
1  Krn^s  xii.  28 — 30. 

4  ({.     What  was  tlie  worship  he  appointed  ? 

*'i.  Something  like  the  worship  which  God  appointed 
at  Jerusalem,  with  an  altar,  and  priests,  and  sacrifices, 
and  incense,  ver.  32. 

5  Q.  Wherein  did  it  differ  from  the  worship  at  Jeru- 
salem r 

A.  l^sides  the  forsaking  of  the  temple  and  the  place 
which  God  appointed,  he  also  made  priests  of  the  lowest 
of  the  people,  instead  of  the  sons  of  Levi,  and  ordained 
feasts  at  a  different  time  from  tiiat  which  God  liad  a|>- 
poiiited,  and  set  up  the  images  of  calves  to  represent 
the  presence  of  God.  ver.  23,  32,  and  2  Chron,  xi,  6, 
and  xii.  13,  and  xiii.  8,  9. 

JVote.     Here  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  Jeroboam  forsook 
tlie   God   of  Israel,  and  tan^ht   the  people  to   worship  auere 
Ives  ;  but  Dnly  that  he  devised  of  bis  own  btirt  other  tiAQ0 
9^ 


90  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  U- 

and  places,  and  other  forms  and  circumstances  of  worship  t& 
be  paid  to  the  God  of  Israel ;  and  that  by  images  or  idols, 
which  were  probably  the  figures  of  the  cherubs  on  the  mercy- 
seat,  where  God  dwelt ;  but  the  Scripture  in  contempt,  calls 
them  calves.  See  Chap.  V.  qu.  37,  and  Chap.  VII.  Qw.  3, 
And  the  worship  is  called  idolatry  and  the  worship  of  other  gods. 
The  prophet  Hosea,  who  lived  in  the  days  of  Jeroboam  the 
second,  the  son  of  Joash,  perpetually  rebukes  this  sin  of  idola- 
try, and  inveighs  against  these  idols,  the  calves.  Hos.  i.  1,  and 
chap.  viii.  3,  5,  and  chap.  x.  5,  and  xiii.  2. 

6  Q.    For  what  end  did  Jeroboam  do  this  ? 

A.  He  feared,  if  the  people  went  up  frequently  to 
sacrifice  at  Jerusalem,  they  would  be  tempted  to  return 
again  ta  Rehoboam  king  of  Judah.  ver,  26,  27,  28. 

7  Q.  What  visible  token  of  displeasure  did  God 
manifest  against  this  worship  which  Jeroboam  set  up  ? 

^.  '  He  sent  a  prophet  to  the  altar  at  Bethel,  who 
foretold  that  a  son  of  the  house  of  David,  Josiah  by  name, 
should  burn  the  bones  of  Jeroboam's  priests  upon  the  al- 
tar.    1  Kings  xiii.  1,  2. 

8  Q.  What  sign  did  the  prophet  give  that  this  pro- 
phecy should  be  fulfilled  ? 

.5.  The  prophet  foretold  that  the  altar  should  be  rent 
asunder,  and  the  ashes  poured  out,  both  which  were  ful- 
filled immediately :  and  Jeroboam's  hand  withered  when 
he  stretched  it  out  to  lay  hold  of  the  prophet,  ver.  3, 4, 
&c,  though  at  the  prayer  of  the  prophet,^  God  restored  it 
again. 

9  Q.  What  other  token  did  God  give  of  his  anger 
against  Jeroboam  ? 

J,  God  threatened  Jeroboam  and  his  family  with  ut- 
ter destruction,  so  that  none  of  them  should  find  a  grave, 
besides  Abijah  his  youngest  son,  because  there  were 
found  in  him  some  good  inclinations  towai'd  the  God  of 
Israel.     1  Kings  xiv.  13. 

10  q.     Who  was  Omri  ? 

j3.  The  captain  of  the  host  of  Israel,  who  was  made 
king  by  the  people  when  Zimri  set  up  himself.  1  Kings 
xvi.  Id. 

11  Q.     What  is  recorded  concerning  Omri  ? 

^,    (1.)  That  he  besieged  Zimri  his  predecessor  so 


Chap.  II.        SCRIPTLKE  IIISTOKV.  91 

closely  ill  Tlizali,  the  royal  city, that Zimri  burnt  himself 
and  the  palace  together,  and  died.  (2.)  That  he  built 
Samaria  for  the  royal  city,  on  a  hill.  And  (;1.)  That  he 
walked  in  all  the  smful  ways  of  Jeroboam,  ver.  17 — 28. 

12  ^.     Who  was  Ahab,  and  wliat  was  his  character? 

•9,  Ahab  was  the  son  of  Omri,  who  followed  the  wick- 
ed ways  of  his  predecessors  ;  he  sinned  aj^ainst  God  and 
man  grieviously,  and  provoked  (jhx\  beyond  all  who  were 
before  him.  ver.  29 — S3,  and   1    A'ings  xxi.  25. 

13  ^.  How  did  God  signify  his  displeasure  against 
Ahab? 

»9.  He  sent  Elijah  the  prophet  to  reprove  him,  and  to 
foretel  that  there  should  be  neither  dew  nor  rain  for  sev- 
eral years,  which  accordingly  came  to  pass.  1  Kiugn. 
xvii.  1. 

14  Q.  How  was  Elijah  himself  fed  duiing  this  fam- 
ine? 

Ji.  He  was  appointed  to  hide  himself  ^  the  brook 
Cherith,  and  the  ravens  brought  him  bread  and  flesh  in 
the  mornino;  and  the  evening,  and  he  drank  of  the  water 
of  the  brook,  ver.  5,  6. 

15  Q.  Whither  did  the  prophet  go  when  tlie  brook 
was  dried  up  ? 

Ji.  God  sent  him  to  a  woman  of  Sarepta  near  Sidon, 
to  be  maintained  by  her,  when  she  had  only  a  liandful  of 
meal  in  a  barrel,  and  a  little  oil  in  a  cruise.  1  Kings 
xvii.  9,  &c. 

16  ^.  How  could  this  maintain  tlie  woman,  her  son, 
and  the  prophet  ? 

^.  God  wonderfully  increased  the  oil  and  the  meal, 
so  that  the  barrel  of  meal  wasted  not,  neither  did  the 
cruise  of  oil  fail,  till  God  sent  rain  upon  the  land.  ver. 
14,  &c. 

17  Q.  What  further  miracles  did  Elijah  work  in 
this  woman's  family,  to  prove  that  he  was  sent  from 
God? 

Ji.  When  her  son  died,  the  prophet  raised  him  to 
life  again,  ver.  21 — 24. 

18  ^.  What  special  deliverance  did  God  give  Israel 
in  the  time  of  Ahab  ? 


D2  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  1 1 . 

J2,  Thoi:gli  Ahab  was  so  great  a  sinner,  yet  God 
made  Israel  victorious  over  the  Syrians  who  invaded 
them,  because  Beniiadad  the  king  of  Syria  boasted,  and 
blasphemed  God.     1  Kings  xx.  10,  28. 

19  ((,  What  were  some  of  the  special  sins  of  Ahab 
against  God  ? 

J.  Besides  tlie  idolatry  of  the  calves,  he  also  set  up 
the  idol  Baal,  he  caused  Israel  to  worship  it,  and  by  the 
influence  of  his  v/ife  Jezebel,  slew  a  great  number  of  tlit^ 
prophets  of  tho.  liOrd.     1  Kings  xviii.  4. 

20  ^.     Were  any  of  the  prophets  of  the  Lord  saved  ? 
A,     Obadiali,  the   governor   of  Aliab's   house,  liid   a 

hundred  of  them  in  two  caves,  and  fed  them  wltii  bread 
and  watei-,  while  Elijah  iled  wheresoever  he  could  find 
a  hiding  place,  ver.  5,  6,  10. 

21  (I.  Hov/  did  Elijah  bring  about  the  destruction  of 
Baal's  prophets  ? 

A,  He  boldly  met  Aliab,  and  bid  him  summon  all  Is- 
rael top;ether,  and  the  four  hundred  and  fifty  prophets  of 
Baal,  that  a  sacrifice  mi^ht  be  oftered  to  Baal  and  to  Je- 
]iovah,to  make  an  expermient  which  was  the  true  God. 

22  Q.  How  did  he  convince  the  people  that  Jehovah 
was  the  true  God  ? 

A.  Fire  came  from  heaven  and  consumed  Elijah's 
sacrifice,  after  he  had  poured  great  quantities  of  water 
upon  it ;  which  the  prophets  of  Baal  attempted  in  vain 
to  procure  on  their  altar,  though  they  cut  themselves 
with  knives,  and  cried  aloud  to  their  god.  1  Kings 
xviii.  17-- 38. 

23  Q.     What  influence  had  this  upon  the  people  ? 

A.  They  fell  upon  their  faces,  and  acknowledged  Je- 
hovah to  be  the  true  God  ;  and  then  at  the  command  of 
Elijah,  the  people  slew  all  the  prophets  of  Baal.  ver. 
39,  4a 

24  Q.  How  did  God  further  manifest  his  approbation 
of  this  conduct  of  Elijah  ? 

A,  He  immediately  sent  rain,  and  put  an  end  to  the 
famine,  ver.  41,  45. 

25  Q.  What  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  sins  of 
Ahab  against  man  ? 


Chap.  U.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  93 

Ji,  He  coveted  the  vineyard  of  Naboth,  and  by  the 
help  of  false  witnesses  stoned  Nabotli  to  death  for  blas- 
phemy, and  took  possession  of  his  land.  I  Kings  xxi. 
0—14. 

26  (I.  What  was  the  manner  of  Ahab's  death  at  last, 
after  so  wicked  a  life  ? 

Ji.  In  opposition  to  tlie  prophecy  of  Micaiah  he  went 
to  fight  wit!»  tiie  kinj^  of  Syria,  and  received  a  mortal 
wound.     1  k'ings  xxii.  34. 

'27  ({.  Wherein  did  the  judgment  of  God  against 
Ahab  appear  in  his  death  ? 

..i.  The  doijs  licked  up  his  blood  on  that  spot  of 
ground  where  Naboth's  blood  was  shed,  according  to  the 
prophecy  of  Elijah.     1  K'ings  xxi.  19,  and  xxii.  38. 

28  (^.     What  sort  of  a  man  was  Ahaziah  ? 

•'i.  Ahaziah,  the  son  of  Ahab,  mIio  succeeded  him  in 
!)is  kingdom,  followed  his  wicked  ways.  1  h'ings  xxii.  51. 

29  f^.  Wliat  particular  crimes  of  Ahaziah  are  re- 
corded ? 

.?.  When  he  was  sick,  he  sent  to  inquire  of  Baalze- 
bub,  the  god  of  Ekron,  about  his  recovery  ;  and  because 
Elijah  reproved  him  for  it,  he  sent  three  captains  each 
with  fifty  men,  to  make  Elijah  their  prisoner.  2  Kings 
i.  1,9. 

30  Q.     What  did  Elijah  do  on  this  occasion  ? 

A.  He  brouglit  down  tire  from  heaven,  whicli  consum- 
ed the  two  first'of  them  with  their  troops,  but  he  spared 
'  the  third  uj)on  his  entreaty,  and  then  went  down  with 
him  to  king  Ahaziali,  and  told  him  that  he  should  surely 
die.  ver.  9—16, 

31-  ({,     How  did  Elijah  leave  the  world  ? 

.^.  He  was  taken  up  to  heaven  in  a  whirlwind,  by  a 
cliariot  and  horses  of  fire,  and  left  his  mantle  behind  him. 
2  Kings  ii. 

32  Q.     Who  succeeded  Elijah  in  tlie  office  of  prophet? 
»^.     Elisha,  who  was  with  him  when  he  was  taken  up 

to  heaven,  and  had  a  double  portion  of  the  spirit  of  Eli- 
jah given  him.  I'pr.  9,  10. 

33  ^.     AVhat  were  some  of  the  chief  miracles  and 
irophecies  of  Eli-ha  ? 


94  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  ir. 

^d.  (I.)  He  smote  the  waters  of  Jordan  with  Elijah'.^ 
mantle,  saving,  Wherp.  is  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah  ? 
and  the  waters  divided  for  him  to  pass  over.  (2.)  He 
cured  tiie  unwholesome  water  near  Jericlio,  bj  casting 
salt  into  it.  (3.)  He  cursed  some  children  that  mocked 
and  reproached  him,  and  there  came  two  slie-bears  out  of 
Ihe  wood  and  tore  to  pieces  fortv-two  of  tnem.  (4.)  He 
brought  water  in  a  time  of  drought  to  supply  three  ar- 
mies, namely,  those  of  Edom,  Judah,  and  Israel.  (5.)  He 
increased  the  widow's  pot  of  oil  that  it  was  sufficient  to 
pay  her  debts  and  maintain  her.  (6.)  He  promised  a 
son  to  the  Shunamite  v/oman  who  entertained  him,  who 
was  before  barren,  and  raised  this  son  to  life  again  when 
he  died.  (7.)  He  healed  Naaman  the  Syrian  of  his  le- 
prosy, by  bidding  him  wash  in  Jordan.  (8.)  He  pro- 
nounced the  plague  of  leprosy  on  Gehazi,his  own  servant 
for  his  covctousness  and  lying.  (9.)  He  made  the  iron 
liead  of  an  axe  float  on  the  water  that  it  might  be  restor- 
ed to  its  owner.  (10.)  He  discovered  the  king  of  Syria's 
private  counsels  to  the  king  of  Israel,  and  smote  his  ar- 
my with  blindness.  (11.)  He  foretold  vast  plenty  on  the 
morrov/,  in  the  midst  of  a  siege  and  famine  in  Samaria. 
(12.)  He  foretold  the  death  of  Benhadad  the  king  of 
Syria,  and  that  Razael  should  succeed  him,  and  treat 
Israel  with  cruelt}'.  Sez  the  second  book  of  Kings,  from 
the  second  to  the  eighth  chapter. 

.'?4  €(.  "Who  was  Jehu,  and  how  came  he  to  the  king- 
dom ? 

Jl.  Jehu  Avas  a  captain,  who  was  anointed  king  by  the 
prophet  whom  Elisha  sent  for  that  purpose,  according  to 
the  appointment  of  God  and  Elijah.  1  Kings  xix.  lO, 
and  2  Kings  ix.  1,  %  &c. 

Sj  ^.  Wluit  was  the  great  work  for  which  God  rais- 
<m1  up  Jehu  to  the  kingdom  ? 

»3.  To  destroy  the  v.orship  of  Baal,  and  to  bring  the 
threatened  judgments  of  God  on  the  house  of  Ahab  for 
their  wickedness,  ver,  7. 

56  Q.  How  did  Jehu  execute  this  bloody  work  upon 
die  house  of  Ahab.^ 

.?.     These  tiirec  ways;  (1.)  He  shot  Jehoram,  the  son 


lUlp. 


11.        SCRIPTL'RE  HISTOIU.  95 


of  Ahab,  who  was  then  king,  with  an  arrow,  and  cast 
him  upon  the  land  of  Naboth,  whom  Ahab  slew.  (2.)  He 
commanded  Jezebel,  the  wicked  and  idolatrous  queen- 
mother,  to  be  tinown  out  of  the  window,  and  the  dogs 
eat  her  up.  (3.)  He  ordered  the  seventy  remaining  sons 
of  Ahab  to  be  slain  in  Samaria,  and  their  heads  to  be 
brought  him  in  baskets.  2  Kings  ix.  and  x. 
- .  Sf  ^.  How  did  he  destroy  the  worship  of  Baal  ? 
\  ^.  He  gathered  the  prophets  of  Baal,  and  his  priests 
and  his  worshippers  togetlier,  into  his  temple,  under  pre- 
tence of  a  great  sacrifice  to  Baal ;  and  then  commanded 
ihem  all  to  be  slain  with  the  sword,  and  the  image  to 
be  burnt,  and  the  temple  to  be  destroyed,  ver,  18 — 28. 

38  Q.    Did  Jehu  continue  to  obey  God  in  all  things  ? 
•-?.    S'o ;  for  thougli   he  executed   the  vengeance  of 

God  against  Ahab,  and  the  worshippers  of  Baal,  yet  he 
maintained  the  idolatry  of  Jeroboam,  namely,  the  calves 
uf  Dati  and  Bethel,     ver.  29,  30. 

39  Q.     Who  was  Joash  r 

J.  He  was  the  son  of  Jehoahaz  the  son  of  Jehu,  and 
he  reigned  over  Israel.     2  Kings  xiii.  10. 

40  ({.     What  is  remarkable  in  his  conduct  ? 

•^.  When  Elisija  was  upon  his  death-bed,  he  came 
down  to  see  him,  and  wept  over  him,  yet  he  departed 
jiot  from  the  sins  of  Jeroboam,     ver,  14. 

41  Q.     What  did  he  do  for  tlie  good  of  Israel  ? 

J.  According  to  the  prophecy  of  dying  EUsha,  he 
snmte  the  Syrians  thrice,  who  had  oppressed  Israel  in 
the  days  of  his  father,     ver.  15,  19 — 25. 

42  ((.  Is  thei'e  any  tiling  of  moment  recoi*ded  con- 
cerning Elisha  after  his  death  ? 

Jl.  They  buried  a  man  the  year  following  in  the  se- 
pulchre of  Elisha,  and  as  soon  as  he  touched  tlic  bones  of 
Elisha,  he  revived  and  stood  upon  his  feet.     ver.  21. 

43  Q.     What  did  Joash  do  against  Judah  ? 

J.  When  Amaziah  king  of  Judah  provoked  him  to 
war,  he  routed  tlie  anny  of  Judah,  and  took  the  kino; 
prisoner :  he  brake  down  the  Avail  of  Jerusalem,  and 
plundered  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  the  king's  house, 
of  all  the  gold  and  silver  vessels.     2  Kivgs  xiv.  8—14. 


^6  vSCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  11. 

44  Q.  Was  there  any  considerable  thing  fell  out  in 
the   reign  of  Pekah  ? 

•5.  This  Pekah  joined  with  the  kin^  of  Syria  to  in- 
vade Judah,  but  he  was  repulsed :  in  his  days,  Tiglath- 
Pileser,  king  of  Assyria,  took  many  cities  in  Galilee, 
and  carried  many  of  the  people  captive  to  Assyria.  3 
Kings  xiv.  29,  and  xvi.  5 — 9. 

45  Q.  Who  was  Hoshea,  and  what  is  recorded  of 
him  ? 

Jl.  He  was  the  last  king  of  Israel ;  he  slew  Pekah 
and  made  himself  king.     2  Kings  xv.  30. 

46  Q.     How  came  the  kingdom  to  end  in  him  ? 

A,  In  his  days  Shalmaneser  king  of  Assyria,  took  the 
city  of  Samaria,  bound  Hoshea  the  king  in  prison,  car- 
ried multitudes  of  Israel  captive  into  Assyria,  and  dis- 
tributed them  into  several  distant  countries,  from  which 
they  have  never  returned  to  this  day.  2  Kings  xvii, 
1—6,  23. 

47  O.    What  provoked  Shalmaneser  to  do  this  ? 

Jl,  Hoshea  had  submitted  to  him,  and  afterwards 
plotted  and  rebelled  against  him.  ver.  3,  4. 

48  Q.     What  provoked  God  to  punish  Israel  thus  ? 
.5.     The  people  of  Israel,  with  all  their  kings,  after 

their  separation  from  the  house  of  David,  had  been  guilty 
of  continual  idolatry,  in  opposition  to  the  many  precepts 
and  warnings  of  God,  by  the  writings  of  Moses,  and  the 
voice  of  all  the  prophets,  ver.  7 — 23, 

49  Q.  What  became  of  Samaria,  and  the  other  cities 
of  Israel,  when  the  people  were  driven  out  of  them  ? 

Ji,  Several  of  tlie  lieathen  nations  were  placed  there, 
and  each  worshipped  their  own  gods  and  idols  ;  where- 
fore the  Lord  sent  lions  amongst  them,  and  destroyed 
many  of  them.  ver.  24 — 31. 

50  Q.  What  was  done  upon  this  occasion  to  appease 
the  anger  of  God,  and  save  the  people  from  the  lions  ? 

Ji.  The  king  of  Assyria  sent  a  Jewish  priest  thither, 
to  teach  them  the  worship  of  the  God  of  Israel,  ver,  27. 

51  Q.  What  was  the  effect  of  tliis  conduct  of  the 
Jiinff  of  Assyria  ? 

M,    These  nations  feared  the  God  of  Israel,  and  yet 


Chap.  12.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  97 

tliev  could  not  lay  aside  tlieir  own  idolatries,  for  tliey 
continued  to  serve  their  own  graven  images  also  in  ma- 
ny following  generations,  ver.  41, 

51  Q.  But  did  they  always  continue  in  this  mixed 
kind  of  religion  ? 

A.  In  process  of  time  they  forsook  their  idols,  wor- 
shipped the  true  God  only,  and  submitted  themselves  to 
the  Jewish  religion,  so  as  to  receive  the  five  books  of 
Moses :  they  had  a  temple  of  their  own  built  on  Mount 
Gerizim,  and  in  the  New  Testament  are  called  Samari- 
tans. 


CHAP.  XII. 
Of  the  Kings  of  Jiidah. 

1  Q,  How  many  kings  and  rulers  reigned  over 
Judah? 

A.  Twenty;  namely,  Rehoboam,  Abijali,  Asa,  Je- 
hoshaphat,  Jehorain,  Ahaziah,  Athaliah  the  queen,  Joash, 
Amaziah,  Uzziah,  Jothan,  Ahaz,  Hezekiah,  Manasseh, 
Amon,  Josiah,  Jehoahaz,  Jehoiakim,  Jehoiachin,  and 
Zedekiah. 

2  Q.  Were  all  these  rulers  of  Judah  also  great  sin- 
ners, as  well  as  the  kings  of  Israel  ? 

A.  A  few  of  them  were  very  religious,  some  very 
wicked,  and  others  of  an  indifferent  or  mixed  character. 

3  Q.  What  fell  out  in  Kehoboam*s  reign,  after  the 
ten  tribes  had  made  Jeroboam  their  king  ? 

^.  W  hen  Rehoboam  raised  a  great  army  out  of  Ju- 
dah and  Benjamin  to  recover  the  ten  tribes,  God  by  his 
prophet  forbid  tliem  to  proceed.     1  Kings  xii.  S^*— 25. 

4  O.  Were  there  no  wars  then  between  Judah  and 
Israelr 

J.  Yes ;  in  the  following  times  there  were  bloody 
wars  between  them. 

5  ((.  How  did  the  people  of  Judah  behave  themselves 
•mdcr  tl)e  government  of  Rehoboam? 

10 


^J8  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.       Chap.  12. 

A  They  fell  into  idolatry  and  shameful  sins,  where- 
iifpon  God  was  angry,  and  Shishack  king  of  Egypt  plun- 
dered the  temple  and  the  king's  house  of  their  treasures, 
in  the  fifth  year  of  Rehoboam's  reign.  1  Kings  xiv.  25. 
So  short-lived  was  the  supreme  grandeur  and  glory  of 
the  Jewish  church  and  state. 

6  ^.  Did  Abijah  the  son  of  Rehoboam  do  any  thing 
remarkable  in  his  reign  ? 

A.  He  made  a  speech,  and  pleaded  against  Israel, 
when  Jeroboam  led  them  to  war  against  him  ;  he  reprov- 
ed them  for  their  departure  from  the  true  worship  of 
God,  and  from  the  house  of  David;  and  when  they 
would  not  hearken,  but  set  upon  him  in  battle,  he  and 
his  army  cried  unto  the  Lord,  and  shouted,  and  slew  five 
hundred  thousand  men.  A  brave  example  of  divine 
success  !  2  i^hron,  xiii.  4 — 17. 

7  Q.  What  is  recorded  concerning  Asa,  the  son  of 
Abijah,  and  king  of  Judah  ? 

•4.  That  he  did  what  was  ri^ht  in  the  eyes  of  the 
Lord,  and  destroyed  the  idols  which  had  been  set  up  in 
the  land.    2  Chron.  xiv.  1 — 5. 

8  Q.     What  token  of  favour  did  God  shew  him  ? 

•4.  When  he  called  upon  the  Lord,  and  trusted  in 
lum,  he  defeated  the  army  of  the  Ethiopians,  who  came 
against  him,  though  they  were  a  thousand  thousand,  ver, 
^—15. 

9  Q.     Did  Asa  continue  all  his  days  to  fear  the  Lord  ? 
.5.     In  his  old  age  he  fell  into  distrust  of  God,  and 

he  gave  the  treasure  that  remained  in  the  house  of  God, 
ana  in  the  king's  house,  to  the  king  of  Syria,  to  guard 
and  help  him  against  Baasha  the  king  of  Israel ;  and  he 
imprisoned  the  prophet  which  reproved  him  for  it.  2 
Chron,  xvi.  1 — 10. 

10  Q-    What  is  remarkable  in  Asa's  death  ? 

j3.  That  in  the  disease  of  his  feet  (which  is  supposed 
to  be  the  gout)  he  sought  not  the  Lord,  but  only  to  the 
physicians;  and  he  slept  ivith  his  fathers,  ver.  11 — 13. 

11  Q.  How  did  his  son  Jehoshapliat  behave  himsell 
*.n  the  kingdom  r 


Chap.  I^.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  9S^ 

A.  He  walked  in  tlie  first  and  best  ways  of  his  father 
David,  and  (iod  was  with  him.     2  CJiron.  xviii.  3. 

12  Q.  Wherein  did  Jehoshaphat  more  particularly 
discover  his  piety  and  goodness  ? 

J.  He  appointed  Levites  and  priests  throughout  all 
tiie  cities  ot  Judah,  to  teach  the  law  of  tlie  Lord;  and 
he  set  judges  in  tlie  land  with  a  solemn  charge  to  do 
justice  without  bribery.  2  Chron.  xvii.  7—9,  and  xir. 
5—11. 

13  Q.  Wherein  did  God  manifest  his  special  favour 
to  Jehoshaphat  ? 

J.  God  gave  him  very  great  treasures,  and  the  fear 
of  the  Lord  fell  upon  all  the  kingdoms  round  about  Ju- 
dah, so  that  for  many  years  they  made  no  war  upon  him. 
2  Chron.  xvii.  10—19. 

14  Q.     Wherein  did  he  offend  God  ? 

A.  In  joining  in  alliance  with  Ahab  the  wicked  king 
of  Israel,  whereby  he  was  in  great  danger  of  being  slain 
in  a  battle  against  the  Syrians.  2  Chroru  xviii.  1,  31, 
and  xix.  2. 

15  (^.  When  Moab  and  Ammon  joined  their  forces 
against  Jehoshaphat,  how  was  he  delivered  from  them  ? 

Ji.  He  proclaimed  a  fast  through  the  land,  and  in  the 
midst  of  the  people  he  prayed  earnestly  to  the  Lord, 
and  when  he  went  out  to  battle,  he  appointed  the  singers 
before  the  army,  to  sing  praises  to  tlie  Lord.  2  Chron. 
XX.  1—21. 

16  Q.    What  was  the  effect  of  this  pious  practice? 

A,  When  they  began  to  sing  and  to  pray,  his  ene- 
mies fell  upon  one  another  till  they  were  all  slain,  ver. 
22—29. 

17  Q.  Did  Jehoram,  the  son  of  Jelioshaphat,  imitate 
his  fathei-*s  government  in  pietv  ? 

Ji.  By  no  means ;  for  he  slew  al!  his  own  brethren, 
he  walked  in  the  ways  of  Ahab  king  of  Israel,  and  took 
his  daughter  Athaliah  to  wife.     2  CJiron,  xxi.  1 — 7. 

18  Q.  How  did  God  testify  his  displeasure  against 
Telioram  ? 

^      }h^  smote  Jehoram  with  such  an  incurable  di«- 


100  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.       Chap.  19. 

temper,  that  his  bowels  fell  out,  and  he  died  of  sore  dis- 
eases, ver.  15—19. 

19  Q.     Who  succeeded  Jehoram  in  the  kingdom  ? 

*3.  Ahaziah  his  youngest  son,  for  all  his  eldest  \ver« 
slain  in  the  camp  by  the  Arabians.     2  Chron,  xxii.  1. 

20  ^..  What  was  tlie  behaviour  and  the  fate  of  Aha^ 
ziali  king  of  Judah  ? 

Ji.  He  followed  the  evil  practices  of  the  house  of 
Ahab,  by  the  persuasions  of  his  mother  Athaliali,  who 
was  the  grand-daughter  of  Omri ;  and  when  he  went  out 
w^ith  Jehoram,  the  king  of  Israel,  against  Jehu,  he  was 
slain  by  Jehu.     2  Chron.  xxii.  1 — 9. 

21  $.  Who  succeeded  to  the  tlirone  of  Judah  when 
Ahaziah  was  dead  ? 

Jl.  Athaliah  his  mother  seized  the  kingdom,  and  de- 
stroyed all  the  seed-royal  of  the  house  of  Judah,  except 
Joash,  the  son  of  Ahaziah,  an  infant  of  a  year  old,  who 
was  hid  in  the  temple.     2  Chron,  xxii.  2,  10 — 12. 

22  ^.     How  did  Athaliah  reign  ? 

Jl.  As  she  counselled  her  son  Ahaziah  before,  so  she 
herself  practised  the  idolatry  of  the  house  of  Ahab.  2 
Chron.  xxii.  S,  17,  and  xxiv.  7.   . 

23  Q.     How  was  Athaliah  deposed  ? 

A.  Jehoida  the  high  priest  stirred  up  the  captains  of 
the  army,  the  Levites,  and  the  chief  of  the  people  against 
her :  he  set  Joasli  on  the  throne  when  he  was  seven 
years  old,  anointed  and  proclaimed  him  king,  then  order- 
ed the  guards  to  slay  Athaliah,  and  destroyed  the  wor- 
ship of  Baal.    2  Chron.  xxiii.  1 — 15. 

24  Q.  What  was  the  conduct  of  Joash  in  his  gov- 
ernment ? 

Ji.  He  did  that,  which  was  light  in  the  sight  of  the 
TiOrd  all  the  days  of  Jehoida  the  priest,  who  was  his  un- 
cle ;  he  repaired  the  temple,  and  the  vessels  thereof,  and 
restored  the  worship  of  God.     2  Chron.  xxiv.  1  — 1 5. 

25  ^.     How  did  Joash  behave  after  Jehoida's  death  ? 
Jl.     He  was  persuaded  to  change  the  worship  of  God 

for  idols,  and  most  ungratefully  slew  Zechariah,  the  son 
of  Jehoida,  because  he  reproved  the  idolatry  of  the  peo- 
ple.    2  Chron.  xxiv.  17 — 22.  J^Iatt.  xxiii.  35. 


Oliap.  12-         SCRIPTURK  HISTORY.  101 

26  Q.  In  what  manner  did  God  punish  him  for  his 
crime? 

*i.  He  sent  an  army  of  the  Syrians  against  him,  who 
pillaged  the  country ;  he  smote  him  with  sore  diseases, 
and  at  last  his  own  servants  slew  him  on  his  bed.  ver, 
23—26. 

27  ^.     How  did  Amaziah  the  son  of  Joash  reign  ? 
•3.     At  first  he  seemed  to   work  n^liteousness,  and 

hearkened  to  the  voice  of  God  and  his  prophets;  but 
afterwards,  gaining  a  victory  over  the  Edomites,  he  learnt 
to  worship  me  gods  of  Edom.     2  Chron.  xxv.  1 — 16. 

28  Q.  How  came  Amaziah  to  meet  liis  ruin  and  his 
death? 

•^.  Being  puffed  up  with  his  success  against  Edom, 
he  challenged  the  king  of  Israel  to  battle,  and  was  rout- 
ed shamefully,  and  was  slain  at  last  by  a  conspiracy  of 
his  own  people.     2  Chron.  xxv.  17 — 28. 

29  ^.  What  was  the  character  and  reign  of  Uzziah 
the  king  ? 

A,  He  was  made  king  at  sixteen  years  old,  in  the 
room  of  his  fathei^maziah ;  he  sought  after  God  in  the 
days  of  ZechariaWthe  prophet,  and  God  prospered  his 
arms  against  all  his  enemies,  and  made  his  name  great. 
2  Chron.  xxvi.l — 15. 

J^ote.  This  was  several  hundred  year?  before  that  Zechariah 
who  prophecied  after  the  captivity, 

30  Q.    Wherein  did  he  provoke  God  afterwards  .* 

^.  His  heart  was  lifted  up  by  his  prosperity,  and  he 
assumed  the  priest's  office,  and  burnt  incense  in  the  tem- 
ple, though  the  priests  opposed  him.  ver.  16. 

31  ^.     What  was  his  punishment  for  this  crime  ? 

*  •4.  While  he  had  a  censer  in  his  hand  to  burn  incense, 
the  leprosy  rose  up  in  his  forehead,  and  he  continued  a 
leper  till  his  death,  ver  19. 

32  Q.  Is  there  any  thin»  very  remarkable  in  the 
reign  of  Jotham,  the  son  of  Lzziaii? 

Ji.  He  was  a  good  king,  and  God  blessed  his  arms, 
0  that  he  brought  the  Ammonites  under  tribute.  2  Chron. 
xvii.  1-^6. 

10* 


102  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  12, 

33  Q.  How  did  Aliaz  the  son  of  Jotham  behave  him- 
self? 

,S.  ?  He  walked  in  the  ways  of  the  kings  of  Israel, 
made  images  for  Baal,  and  offered  his  children  in  sacri- 
fice by  fire,  after  the  abominations  of  the  heathen.  2 
Chron.  xxviii.  1 — 4. 

34  Q.  How  did  God  shew  his  displeasure  against 
Ahaz  ? 

•S.  His  land  was  invaded  by  the  king  of  Syria,  and 
by  the  king  of  Israel ;  multitudes  of  his  people  were 
slain,  and  many  captives  were  carried  to  Damascus  and. 
to  Samaria,  though  the  Israelites  restored  their  captives 
again  at  the  word  of  the  prophet  Oded.     ver.  5 — 15. 

35  Q.     What  further  iniquities  of  Ahaz  are  recorded  ? 

A,  That  he  set  aside  the  brazen  altar  which  was  be- 
fore the  Lord,  and  set  up  another  in  tlie  court  of  the 
temple,  according  to  the  pattern  of  an  altar  he  had  seen 
at  Damascus,  and  at  last  fell  in  with  the  idolatry  of  the 
heathen  nations.      9.  ICings  x\'i.  ^0.     2  6Vz row.  xxviii. 

36  Q.  What  was  one  particular  aggravation  of  his 
crimes  ? 

»^.  That  even  in  the  time  of  his  dilPess,  he  sinned  the 
more  against  God  ;  and  because  God  did  not  help  him, 
he  sacrificed  to  the  gods  of  Damascus ;  he  cut  in  pieces 
the  vessels  of  the  house  of  God,  shut  up  the  doors  of  the 
temple,  and  set  up  idols  in  Jerusalem,  and  through  all 
the  land.     2  Chron.  xxviii.  22 — 25. 

37  Q.  Did  Hezekiah,  the  son  of  Ahaz,  continue  in 
the  sins  of  his  father  ? 

^.  No ;  but  he  made  a  great  reformation,  not  only  in 
Judah,  but  also  in  Ephraim  and  Manasseh ;  he  brake  the 
images,  cut  down  the  groves,  destroyed  their  altars,  re- 
paired the  temple,  and  restored  the  worship  of  the  true 
God  there.     2  Chron.  xxix.  and  xxxi. 

38  Q.  What  peculiar  instance  did  he  give  of  his  zeal 
against  all  manner  of  idolatry  ? 

A,  He  brake  in  pieces  the  brazen  serpent  that  Moses 
had  made  in  the  wilderness,  because  the  people  burnt  in- 
cense to  it.    2  Kings  xviii.  4. 

39  Q.    In  what  manner  did  he  keep  the  pass-over  ? 


v'ha 


SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  103 


J,  He  sent  to  all  Israel,  as  nvcII  as  to  Judah,  to  in- 
vite them  to  keep  the  pass-over  at  Jerusalem,  according 
to  the  appointment  of  God.    2  C/irou.  xxx. 

Though  Hezekiah  king  of  Judah,  be^an  thi?  reformation  in 
the  first  year  of  his  reign,  yet  ii  might  not  be  carried  to  this 
height  till  the  sixth  or  seventh  year,  at  which  time  there  was  no 
king  in  Is?rael ;  Hoshea,  the  last  king,  being  taken  and  imprisont 
t  «1  by  the  king  of  Assyria,  and  a  great  part  of  the  people  being 
carried  into  cajHivity,  in  the  sixth  year  of  Hezekiah's  reign. 
See  2  Ckron.  xxix.  3,  and  2  Kiiigs  xviii.  9 — II. 

40  Q.  Did  the  other  tribes  of  Israel  come  at  his  in- 
vitation ? 

»^.  Some  mocked  the  message,  but  many  out  of  sev- 
eral tribes  came  ta  the  pass-over,  so  that  there  was  not 
tlie  like  since  the  time  of  Solomon,    ver,  18 — 26. 

41  Q.  Were  all  these  people  sufticientiy  purified  to 
keep  the  pass-over  ? 

»^.  No  ;  but  at  the  prayer  of  Hezekiah,  the  Lortl  par- 
doned and  accepted  them,  though  several  things  in  this 
pass-over  were  not  exactly  conformable  to  the  holy  insti- 
tution,   ver.  18 — 20. 

42  Q  AV herein  did  Got!  shew  his  acceptance  of 
llezekiah's  zeal  and  piety.'' 

w3.  God  prospered  him  in  his  wars  against  his  ene- 
mies, and  enabled  him  to  cast  oft' the  yoke  of  the  king  of 
Assyria  while  he  trusted  in  him.     2  Aings  xvii.  7,  8. 

43  Q.  What  weakness  was  Hezekiah  guilty  of  after- 
ward, when  Sennacherib  king  of  Assyria  invaded  Judah  r 

Ji.  He  bribed  him  to  depart,  with  gold  and  silver 
taken  from  the  house  of  God.    ver  13 — 1(5. 

44  Q.     What  success  had  this  conduct  of  Hezekiah  r. 

J.  Very  ill  success;  for  some  few  years  after,  Sen- 
nacherib sent  an  army  to  take  Jerusalem.  2  JCings 
xviii.  9— 13,  17. 

45  Q.     What  did  Hezekiah  do  in  this  distress  r 

J.  When  Sennacherib  sent  Rabshakeh  witii  blasphe- 
mies against  God,  and  tlireatenings  against  the  people, 
Hezekiah  humbled  himself  greatly,  and  spread  the  rail- 
ing letter  before  the  Lord  in  the  temple,  and  prayed 
earnestly  to  God  for  deliverance.  2  Kings  xviii.  and  xix. 


104  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  12. 

48  Q.    What  was  the  success  of  Hezekiah's  prayer  ? 

<A.  Isaiah  the  prophet  assured  him  of  deliverance ; 
and  the  angel  of  the  Lord  slew  in  the  camp  of  the  As- 
syrians, one  hundred  and  fourscore  and  five  thousand 
men  at  once.     2  IClngs  xix.  20 — S5, 

47  Q.  What  further  favour  did  Hezekiah  receive 
from  God  ? 

•S.  When  he  was  sick,  near  to  death,  God  heard  his 
prayer,  and  assured  him  he  should  live  fifteen  years  long- 
er.    2  Kings  XX.  1 — 16. 

48  Q.  What  sign  did  God  give  him  to  confirm  his 
faith  in  this  promise  ?  v 

.^.  The  shadow  returned  backward  ten  degrees  up- 
on the  dial  of  Ahaz.     ver.  8 — 1 1. 

49  Q.  Wherein  did  Hezekiah  misbehave  himself  af- 
ter he  had  received  all  this  mercy  ? 

Ji.  In  the  vanity  and  pride  of  his  heart,  he  shewed 
the  messengers  of  the  king  of  Babylon  all  his  treasures. 
ver,  12,  13,  and  2  Chron.  xxiv.  31. 

50  Q.     How  was  Hezekiah's  pride  punished  ? 

•5.  God  told  him  by  the  prophet  Isaiah,  that  all  these 
treasures  should  be  carried  into  Babylon :  but  because 
Hezekiah  humbled  himself,  God  deferred  the  execution 
of  it  till  after  his  death.     2  Chron.  xxxii.  25,  26. 

51  Q.  What  was  the  c|iiaracter  and  the  government 
of  his  son  Manasseh  ? 

*i.  He  forsook  the  good  ways  of  his  father  Hezekiah ; 
he  brought  in  idolatry  of  many  kinds ;  he  worshipped 
the  sun,  moon,  and  stars ;  he  made  his  son  pass  through 
the  fire ;  he  used  enchantments,  and  shed  much  innocent 
blood.     2  ^in^s  xxi.  2 — 16.     2  CArow.  xxxiii. 

52  ^.     How  were  his  transgressions  punished  ? 

•5.  The  captains  of  the  host  of  Assyria  came  up  against 
Manasseh,  took  him  amon^  the  thorns,  bound  him  with 
fetters,  and  carried  him  to  Babylon.    2  C/iron.  xxxiii.  11. 

53  Q.    How  did  Manasseh  behave  in  his  aflliction  .►* 
•5.     He  humbled  himself  greatly  before  God  in  prayer, 

■whereupon  God  restored  him  to  his  kingdom,  where  he 
wrought  a  great  reformation,    ver.  12 — 16. 

54  Q.  What  is  written  concerning  Amon  the  son  of 
Manasseh  ? 


Chap.  12.       SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  105 

A,  Amon  restored  the  idolatry  M'hich  Manasseli  had 
once  set  up,  but  he  never  repented  or  returned  to  God 
as  his  father  had  done,  and  he  was  slain  by  his  own  sei-»- 
vants.     2  Chron.  xxxiii.  ^20 — !25. 

55  ^^.  Wliat  is  worthy  ot*  notice  in  the  reign  of  Jo- 
siah  the  son  of  Amon  ? 

d.  At  eight  years  old  he  began  his  reign,  at  sixteen  he 
sought  after  God,  and  at  twenty  he  destroyed  the  altar 
and'idols  whicli  \\U  tather  Amon,  the  son  of  Manasseh, 
set  up.     2  K'uii^s  xxiii.  3 — \A.     2  Chron,  xxxiv.  I — 7. 

5Q  Q,    How  did  he  carry  on  tliis  work  of  reformation  ? 

A.  He  repiired  tlie  tcninio,  and  restored  the  worship 
of  God  ;  and  finding  a  book  of  the  law  of  the  Lord  by 
Moses,  he  rent  his  clothes,  and  mourned  to  think  how 
little  this  law  had  been  observed,     vpy.  18, 19. 

57  ({.     Wliat  lurtlier  use  did  he  make  of  this  book? 

A.  He  read  the  words  of  it  in  the  ears  of  all  the  el- 
ders of  Judah,  and  the  people,  the  priests,  and  the  pro- 
pliets,  and  made  a  covenant  with  the  people  of  Judah,  to 
perform  what  vas  written  in  this  book.  2  Kings 
xxiii.  2,  3. 

58  ^.     Did  he  make  also  any  refoi-mation  in  Israel  ? 
A,    The  kingdom  of  Israel  beinj^  now  destroyed  by  the 

king  of  Assyria,  Josiah  spread  his  influence  over  those 
who  remainetl  in  tlie  land,  and  many  of  Israel  as  well  as 
of  Judah,  came  to  keep  the  pass-over.  2  Chron.  xxxv.  17. 

59  Q.  Were  not  many  of  Israel  present  also  at 
Hezekiah's  pass-over  ?  wlierein  then  did  tliis  pass-over 
of  Jo!!iah  exceed  that  in  the  days  of  Hezekiah  ? 

A.  In  the  exact  conformity  of  it  to  all  the  rules  ap?- 
pointed  by  Moses,  so  tiiat  no  such  pass-over  had  been 
kept  since  tlie  days  of  Samuel  the  prophet.  2  Chron. 
\x\\.  18. 

Go  (I.  Hid  Josiah  desti'oy  all  the  remainder  of  the 
idolatry  of  Israel,  which  Jeroboam  set  ui>  at  Dan  and 
Bethel  ?^ 

Jl.  Yes ;  and  he  slew  the  priests  of  the  higli  places, 
and  bumt  the  bones  of  the  priests  that  had  been  buried 
there,  upon  the  altar,  according  to  the  word  which  the 
old  prophet  spake  to  Jeroboam.  2  K'ln^s  xxiii.  15 — 20. 
\  fCinga  xiii.  2. 


106  SCRIPTURE   IIISTORV.       Chap.  U, 

61  Q.    How  came  Josiah  by  his  death  ? 

•5.  He  went  out  to  figlit  with  the  kin^  of  Egypt,  with- 
out the  direction  of  God,  and  he  was  slain,  and  great  la- 
mentation was  made  for  him.    2  Chron.  xxxv.  20 — 25» 

62  Q.    Who  succeeded  Josiah  in  the  kingdom  ? 

^  Jl.  His  son  Jehoahaz,  who  when  he  had  reigned  three 
months,  was  put  in  bonds  by  the  king  of  Egypt,  was  car- 
ried thither,  and  there  he  died.    2  Kings  xxiii.  31 — 34. 

63  Q.  Whom  did  the  king  of  Egypt  make  king  in  his 
room  ? 

A,  Eliakim  his  brother,  and  gave  him  the  name  of 
Jehoiakim.     2  Kings  xxiii.  34. 

64  Q.  What  sort  of  governor  was  Jehoiakim  and 
what  was  his  end  ? 

•^.  He  did  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  several 
neighboring  nations  beset  him  round  about,  and  Nebu- 
chadnezzar, king  of  Babylon,  sent  up  his  forces  against 
him,  took  some  captives,  bound  the  king  in  fetters,  and 
he  died  in  shame,  liis  dead  body  being  cast  without  the 
gates  of  Jerusalem,  and  witliout  a  burial:  and  his  youn^ 
son  Jehoiachin  reigned  in  his  stead.  2  Chron.  xxxvi. 
5—8.    Dan.  i.  1—3.    Jer.  xxii.  18,  19. 

65  Q.  What  became  of  this  Jehoiachin,  who  is  also 
called  Jechoniah  and  Coniah  ? 

A.  When  he  had  reigned  three  months,  Nebuchad- 
nezzar took  the  city  of  Jerusalem,  and  carried  him  to 
Babylon,  together  with  ten  thousand  captives,  and  rich 
treasures  of  silver  and  gold  that  remained  in  the  temple 
and  in  the  king's  house.  2  Kings  xxiv.  8 — 17,  Jer. 
xxii  24 — 30. 

66  Q.     Was  there  any  king  in  Judah  after  Jehoiachin  ? 
A.    Yes;  the  last    king   was  Zedekiah,  his   father's 

brother,  whom  Nebuchadnezzar  made  king  in  Jerusalem. 
ver.  17,  18. 

67  q.    What  fell  out  in  the  days  of  Zedekmh  ? 

Ji.  He  rebelled  against  Nebuchadnezzar,  to  whom 
he  had  sworn  subjection  by  the  name  of  the  true  God, 
whereupon  Nebuchadnezzar  came  up  and  took  the  city 
of  Jerusalem  again,  after  a  siege  of  two  years.  2  Kings^ 
^xv.  1 — 4, 


Chap.  12.       SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  107 

68  Q.     How  (lid  he  punish  Zedekiah  for  his  rebellion  r 
^.     When  Zedekiah  ded  from  tiic  city,  he  was  seized 

by  the  Babylonians ;  Nebuchadnezzar  ordered  his  sons 
to  be  slain  before  his  face,  then  his  eyes  were  put  out,  he 
was  bound  with  fetters  of  brass,  and  carried  to  Babylon, 
and  there  was  no  more  a  king  in  Judah.  Mer,  6,  7.  2 
Citron.  XXXV i.  13. 

69  ^,  What  became  of  the  city  and  temple  at  this 
time? 

Ji.  The  king  of  Babylon  burnt  the  temple  of  the 
Lord,  the  palace  of  the  king,  and  all  tlie  houses  of  Jeru- 
salem ;  he  brake  down  the  walls  of  the  city,  and  carried 
away  the  rest  of  the  people  captive  ;  together  with  all 
the  vessels  of  gold,  sdver,  and  brass,  great  and  small, 
that  belonged  to  the  temple.    2  Kings  xxv.  8 — 17. 

70  Q.  But  were  the  people  punished  thus  for  the 
sins  of  tlieir  king  ? 

A.  The  princes,  and  the  priests,  and  the  people,  had 
a  large  share  in  the  common  idolatry  and  wickedness, 
togetner  with  the  kings,  and  that  in  opposition  to  all  the 
warnings  of  tlieir  prophets,  whereby  God  was  provoked 
to  punish  them  all.     2  Chron.  xxxvi.  14 — 21. 

71  Q.  Was  there  any  ruler  of  the  scattered  people 
that  remained  in  the  land  of  Israel  ? 

•4.  Gedaliah  was  made  covemor  by  the  king  of 
Babylon,  but  he  was  slain  in  a  little  time  by  a  faction  un- 
der Islmiael,  one  of  the  seed-royal ;  and  there  was  noth- 
ing but  confusion  and  disorder  in  the  land.  2  Kings  xxv. 
'12,  Ike. 

72  Q.     Wliat  became  of  the  people  afterward  ? 

^.  Johanan,  the  son  of  Kareah,  one  of  the  captains 
under  Gedaliah,  routed  Ishmael,  and  drove  him  out  of 
the  land ;  yet  being  afraid  of  the  anger  of  the  kin*  of 
Babylon,  and  his  resentment  of  the  murder  of  Gedaliah 
his  governor,  he  was  tempted  to  fly  into  Kgypt,  and  to 
cany  most  of  the  people  thither  with  liim,  wnere  tliey 
were  dispersed  into  several  cities.  Jer.  xli.  13—18,  and 
xlii.  xliii. 

73  Q.    Was  this  done  by  any  divine  order  ? 

»S.    No :  but  directly  against  the  word  of  the  Lord, 


lOB  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Cbap.  13. 

by  the  mouth  of  Jeremiah  the  propliet,  who  was  left 
among  them  in  the  land;  and  they  carried  him  also  into' 
Egypt  with  them.    Jer.  xliii.  1 — 9. 

74  ^.  Did  the  Jews  behave  themselves  better  in 
Egypt  after  all  their  aflHctions  and  distresses? 

A.  They  practised  idolatry  in  Egypt  with  insolence, 
in  opposition  to  the  reproofs  of  Jeremiah  the  prophet. 
Jer.  xliv. 

75  Q.     Did  they  perish  there,  or  return  ? 

w3.  Jeremiah  was  ordered  by  the  Lord  to  foretel  the 
destruction  of  Egypt  by  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  to  de- 
nounce utmost  calamities  and  death,  by  sword  and  fam- 
ine upon  the  Jews  that  sojourned  there ;  and  that  but  a 
very  small  number  of  them  should  ever  return  to  the 
land  of  Judah,  though  he  foretold  the  return  of  their 
brethren  from  their  captivity  in  Babylon.  Jer,  xliii.  9. 
and  xliv.  11,  28,  &c. 


CHAP.  XIII. 

Of  the  Return  of  the  Jews  from  Captivity  in  Baby- 
lon, and  the  Rebuilding  of  the  City  of  Jerusalem, 
and  the  Temple, 

1  Q.  How  long  did  the  nation  of  the  Jews  continue 
in  their  captivity,  and  their  land  lie  desolate  ? 

Ji.  Though  the  land  lay  not  utterly  desolate  till  the, 
final  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  in  the  days  of  Zedekiah, 
which  was  between  fifty  and  sixty  years  before  their 
first  release;  yet,  from  their  first  captivity  by  Nebuchad- 
nezzar in  former  reigns,  their  land  was  in  some  measure 
desolate  seventy  years,  according  to  the  prophecy  of  Jere- 
miah.    See  2  Chroru  xxxvi.  21.    Jer.  xxv.  11,  12. 

Here  let  it  be  observed,  that  as  there  were  several  seasons, 
and  under  different  kings,  when  part  of  the  children  of  Israel 
and  Judah  were  carried  into  captivity,  and  several  periods 
whence  their  desolations  may  commence ;  so  there  were  seve- 
ral seasons  also  of  their  return  and  restoration :  but  the  chief 
duration  of  their  captivity  and  desolate  circumstajices  was  se^-en- 


Chap.  IS.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  10& 

fy  years.  See  2  Kings  xxiv.  1,  2,  10 — 14,  and  chap.  xxv.  11, 
rompared  irith  Ezra  i.  1,  2,  and  chap.  vi.  1 — 12,  chap.  vii.  7, 
•ind  Kehem.  ii.  1,  &c. 

2  ^.  Who  gave  them  release  from  their  captivity  in 
Babylon  ? 

Ji.  When  Babylon  was  taken  by  Cyrus,  the  general 
of  the  army  under  Darius,  the  king  of  the  Medes,  the 
Assyrian  or  Babylonish  empire  was  finished.  After  Da- 
ri\is*s  deatl),  Cyinis  himself  became  king  of  Persia,  and 
he  not  only  gave  the  people  of  the  Jews  a  release,  but 
gave  tliem  also  a  commission  to  rebuild  tlie  temple,  and 
restored  to  them  the  vessels  of  gold  and  silver  ;  and  this 
Ire  did  by  the  hand  of  Shcsbazzar,  a  prince  of  Judah. 
Ezra  i.  7 — 11. 

JVo/c.  Now  was  that  prophecy  fulfilled  which  Ipaiah  pro- 
nounced above  a  hundred  years  before,  Isa.  xliv.  28,  that  it 
was  Cyrus  who  shoiild  say  to  Jerusalem^  be  thou  built  ;  and  to 
tht  temple.,  be  thy  foundation  laid ;  and  chap.  xiv.  13,  who 
should  build  the  city  of  God.,  and  release  his  captivef. 

3  ^.  Which  of  the  tribes  did  accept  of  this  commie- 
*iion,  and  return  to  their  own  land  ? 

^.  There  were  many  persons  and  families  of  seve- 
lal  tribes  of  Israel  who  took  this  opp'brtunity  of  return- 
ing ;  vet  it  was  cliiefly  those  of  Judah  and  Benjamin, 
with  tfie  priests  and  several  of  tlie  Levites,  wiio  return- 
ed, and  were  now  all  united  under  tlie  name  of  Jews. 
Ezra  i.  5,  and  iv.  1 :2. 

4  ({.     \Mio  were  their  first  leaders  and  directors  ? 
Jl.     Zorubbabel,  a  prince  of  Judah,  of  the  seed-royal, 

whose  Chaldaick  or  Babylonish  name  was  Shesbazzar; 
he  was  their  prince  or  captain,  and  Jeshua  or  Joshua  was 
their  liigh  priest.  Ezra  i.  1 1,  and  ii.  2,  and  iii.  8,  compar- 
pd  ivitUy,  14 — 16,  and  Zech.  iii.  and  iv. 

.Xnte.  This  Sheshazzar,  or  ZerubbabeJ,  was  the  son  of  Sa- 
i  .thicl,  the  son  of  Jeiioiarhin  or  Jechoniah,  king  of  Judah  :  he 
v.a-'  made  efovemor  of  the  land,  under  the  title  of  Tirshatha, 
l)Y  a  ■  '    '   ,1  from  Cyrus,     jei^hua  \va.«»  the  son  of  Jozadak 

or  J(  >on  of  Seraia,  wlio  'vas  hi2:h  prie>-t  when  Jeni- 

s^aiciii  v'«i,    -'il  u  1.'.  >« :.-  i-'i(  to  death  by  N*  hiichad- 


110  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.         Chap.  13. 

5  Q.  What  was  the  first  thing  they  did  after  their 
return  ? 

^,  They  made  a  large  contribution  toward  the  re- 
building of  the  temple,  they  gathered  themselves  together 
to  Jerusalem,  they  set  up  the  altar  of  the  God  of  Israel  and 
offered  sacrifices  upon  it.    Ezra  ii.  68,  and  iii.  1 — 6. 

6  (J.  In  what  manner  did  they  lay  the  foundation  of 
the  temple  ? 

Ji.  While  the  builders  laid  the  foundation,  the  priests 
and  the  Levites  sung  and  praised  the  Lord  with  trum- 
pets and  other  instruments,  after  the  ordinance  of  David. 
Eizra  iii.  10,  11. 

7  ^.  What  remarkable  occurrences  attended  the 
laying  of  the  foundution  of  the  temj^e  ? 

J.  While  -the  younger  part  of  the  people  shouted 
for  joy,  many  of  the  ancient  fathers  wept  with  a  loud 
voice,  when  they  remembered  how  much  more  glorious 
the  first  temple  was  than  the  second  was  like  to  be.  ver. 
12,  IS,  and  Hag.  ii.  3. 

Here  it  may  be  observed,  that  though  the  foundation  of  the 
second  temple  stood  on  the  same  compass  of  ground  as  the  first, 
yet  a  company  of  poor  exiles,  returning  from  a  long  captivity, 
could  not  promise  os  hope  for  so  glorious  a  building  as  the 
temple  of  Solomon,  neither  in  the  richness  of  the  materials,  nor 
in  the  magnificence  and  curiosity  of  the  workmanship.  See 
Dr.  Prideaux's  Connection^  Vol.  I.  p.  143. 

The  Jews  also  generally  suppose  five  things  to  be  wanting  in 
the  second  temple,  after  -it  was  finished,  which  did  belong  to 
the  first;  namely,  (1.)  The  ark  of  the  covenant,  and  the  mer- 
cy-seat, which  Avas  upon  it,  with  the  cherubs  of  gold,  together 
with  the  tables  of  stone  in  which  the  law  was  -written,  which 
were  in  the  ark  when  it  was  brought  into  Solomon's  temple  ;  1 
Kings  viii.  9.  2  Chron.  v.  10,  though  one  would  think  they 
should  have  made  an  ark  and  a  mercy-seat,  before  which  the 
high  priest  should  officiate  once  a  year.  Some  learned  men 
supposed  there  was  such  an  ark  made,  and  that  Ezra's  correct 
copy  of  the  Bible  was  laid  up  in  it :  and  tiiat  it  is  in  imitation 
of  this,  that  the  present  Jews  in  all  their  synagogues  have  such 
an  ark  or  coflfer,  wherein  they  keep  the  law-  (2.)  The  She- 
chinah.,  or  divine  i)resence,  in  a  cloud  of  glory  on  the  mercy-seat. 
(3.)  The  Urini  and  Thurimim.,  whence  the  oracle  came,  or 
divine  answers  to  their  inquiries.  (4.)  The  holy  fire  upon  the 
altar,  which  came  from  heaven.  (5.)  The  spirit  of  prophecy. 
For  though  Haggai,  Zechariah,  and  Malachi  lived  while  the 


Chap.  IS.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Ill 

second  temple  was  building,  and  prophecied  after  it  was  built, 
yet  on  their  uoath  the  prophetic  spirit  ceused  from  among  then. 

8  Q.  Wh^t  was  the  first  hindrance  thej  found  in 
tlie  buihlino;  of  the  temple  ? 

J].  The  Samaritans  desired  to  join  with  them  in  their 
buildinj!;,  and  because  the  Jews  forbid  them,  tliev  gave 
them  continual  trouble  in  the  days  of  Cyrus.  Ezra  iv. 
1—5. 

9  ^.  What  was  the  second  hindrance  they  met 
with  ? 

*/l.  When  Artaxerxes  the  first  came  to  the  throne  of 
Persia  these  people  wrote  an  accusation  against  the  Jews, 
that  the  city  of  Jerusalem  had  been  rebellious  in  former 
times ;  whereupon  Artaxerxes  caused  the  work  to  cease 
fill  tlie  second  year  of  Darius,  ver,  7 — 24. 

JSTote.  This  was  not  Darius,  the  first  king,  and  be  who 
took  Babylon,  and  released  Daniel  from  the  lions'  den  ;  but 
another,  who  reigned  several  j'ears  after  him,  and  was  called 
l^ariiis  Hystaspes,  as  the  best  authors  assert :  and  tliis  also  was 
iong  before  that  Darius  whom  Alexander  subdued,  and  put  an 
end  to  the  Persian  kingdom. 

Here  let  it  be  observed  in  general,  that  it  is  not  a  very  easy 
matter  for  learned  mt:n  to  agree  exactly  in  adjusting  the  time 
>  r  all  these  events,  and  the  particular  accomplishment  of  everj 
^)r'ip}iecy,  because  there  were  several  kings  of  the  same  name  ; 
as,  three  or  four  Artaxerxes's,  and  three  or  more  Darius's,  Sic. 
And  there  were  four  decrees  from  the  kings  of  Persia  in  favour 
of  the  Jews  :  the  first  from  Cyrus  to  Zerubbabel  or  Shesba/zar, 
I  prince  of  Judah.  Esra  i.  1 — 8.  The  second  from  Darius  the 
-econd  to  the  enemies  of  the  Jews,  to  forbid  their  hiiulrance  of 
Uie  v.ork.  Ezra  vi.  1 — 7.  The  tliird  from  Artaxerxes  the  se- 
cond to  Ezra,  recorded  in  Ezra  vii.  11.  The  fourth  from  the 
-;ane  Artaxerxes  to  Nehemiah^^written  in  Kthtnt.  ii.  1 — 9. 

10  ^.  Who  persuaded  the  Jews  to  go  on  with  their 
work  under  the  reign  of  this  Darius  ? 

*;1.  The  prophets  of  God  which  were  with  them  en- 
couraged and  required  them  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
to  go  on  with  the  work  of  the  temple  ;  for  several  of 
them  were  too  negligent,  and  God  punished  them  for  ii 
with  scarcity  of  corn  and  wine.  Ezra  v.  1,  2.  Ua^^  i. 
C — 11.     Zec/z.  i.  7,  &c.  and  chap.  iii.  and  iv. 


112  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  13. 

1 1  Q.  What  encouragement  did  thej  meet  with  from 
the  Persian  court  ? 

»^.  The  governors  of  the  provinces  at  this  time  see- 
ing them  renew  their  building,  sent  to  incfuire  concerning 
the  order  which  Cyrus  gave  for  it :  and  Darius  having 
iound  this  order  among  the  records  of  Babylon,  gave  a 
fresh  command  for  the  rebuilding  of  the  house  ot  God. 
Ezra  V.  S — 17,  and  vi.  1 — 14. 

12  Q.     When  was  the  temple  finished  ? 

J.  Through  many  delays,  arising  partly  from  the 
negligence  of  the  Jews,  partly  from  the  opposition  of 
their  enemies,  it  was  twenty  years  in  building  :  nor  was 
it  finished  till  the  sixth  year  of  the  reign  of  Darius,  at 
which  time  they  dedicated  it  with  many  sJicrifices,  and 
kept  the  pass-over  with  joy.    Ezra  vi.  15 — 22. 

Here  it  may  be  worthy  of  our  observation,  that  the  threaten- 
ed destruction  of  Babylon  kept  pace  with  the  promised  re- 
storation and  joy  of  the  Jcavs.  It  was  Cyrus  who,  as  general 
«f  the  army  of  Darius  the  first,  took  Babylon  by  siege,  with 
blood  and  slaughter,  who  also  released  the  captive  Jews,  when 
-he  came  to  be  king  of  Persia.  Then  the  river  was  turned  in 
upon  the  country  round  it ;  Avhich  Isaiah  foretold,  chap.  xiv.  2.7. 
Ji7id  it  became  a  j^ossession  for  bitterns  and  pools  of  water^  and 
the  sea  covered  it.  Yet  Babylon  was  not  then  destroyed.  But 
when  tlie  BabylMiians  revolted,  in  the  fifth  year  of  Darius 
Hystaspes,  and  he  besieged  them  with  a  vast  army,  their  deso- 
lation was  very  great.  They  themselves  slew  almost  all  their 
women  and  young  children,  to  make  their  provisions  hold  out. 
Then  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah  was  fulfilled,  chap,  xlvii.  9.  Two 
things  shall  come  to  them  in  one  day.,  the  loss  of  children  and 
widoivhood.  Darius  took  the  city  in  the  end  of  the  sixth  year 
of  his  rej<rn,  (at  which  time  the  Jewis'h  temple  was  finished  ;) 
he  gave  them  up  to  the  plunder  of  his  Persian  army,  impaled 
tliree  thousand  who  were  chief  actors  in  the  revolt,  beat  their 
Avails  down  from  three  hundred  cubits  high  to  fifty  cubits.  Af- 
ter this,  Babylon  languished  a  Avhile,  and  at  last  ended  in  a 
perpetual  desolation. 

13  ({.  Wliat  further  encouragement  did  the  Jews 
receive  tioni  another  king  Artaxerxes ? 

A,  Artaxerxes  the  second,  king  of  Persia,  gave  Ezra 
the  priest  and  scribe  a  letter  and  decree,  to  encourage 
the  Jews  yet  remaining  in  Babylon,  to  go  up  to  Jeru«a- 


Chap.  13.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  113 

lem  and  establish  the  worship  of  the  true  Grod  there, 
Ezra  vii.  1 1 — 26. 

JVofe.  This  second  Artaxerxes  is  supposed  by  Dr.  Prideaux 
io  be  Artaxerxes  Loiin^imanus,  as  the  heathen  historians  call 
him  ;  and  to  be  that  sanio  Ahaf-uenis  who  made  Esther  his 
queen,  and  so  became  very  friendly  to  tlie  Jews. 

14  Q,  How  did  the  king  enable  them  to  fulfil  thi» 
decree  r 

*^.  The  kinjj  and  his  counsellors  freelj  offered  much 
silver  and  gold  for  this  work,  and  being  sensible  of  the 
greatness  and  power  of  the  God  of  the  Jews,  whom  he 
calls  the  God  of  heaveHy  he  sought  to  secure  his  favour 
for  himself  and  his  family,  and  pronounced  a  speedy 
8cntence  of  deatli,  banishment,  loss  of  goods,  or  impri- 
^onmeiit,  on  those  who  should  dare  to  limder  this  build- 
ing,    ver.  15 — 17,  23,  2G. 

15  Q.  What  did  Ezra  do  in  his  journey  to  Jeru- 
salem ? 

^  A.  He  proclaimed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  to 
seek  the  assistance  of  God  ;  for  he  was  ashamed  to  ask 
the  king  for  soldiers  to  be  thefr  guard,  because  he  had 
told  the  king  of  the  power  and  the  mercy  of  their  God. 
Ezra  viii.  21,  22. 

16  Q.  What  did  Ezra  do  when  he  came  to  Jerusa- 
lem ? 

«?.  He  delivered  the  orders  of  the  king  to  the  gov- 
ernors of  the  provinces,  and  the  gold  and  silver  to  those 
who  liad  the  care  of  the  building,  and  so  promoted  the 
work,  ver,  33 — 36/ 

17  ^.  What  reformation  did  B/zra  work  among  the 
people  r 

A.  \\  hen  he  was  informed  that  many  of  tlie  Jews 
had  mingled  themselves  in  marriages  with  the  heathens, 
he,  together  with  tiie  more  religious  part  of  the  Jews, 
luimblcd  themselves  before  God  for  all  their  former  in- 
iquities, in  an  excellent  prayer,  and  brought  them  into  a 
covenant  and  an  oath  to  put  away  tlieir  strange  wives. 
Ezra  ix.  and  x. 

J^ote.  None  of  the  Jews  of  either  sex  might  marry  with  a 
Gentile  of  any  nation,  unless  they  were  made  protelj/ies  :  and 
ir 


114  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  15.    , 

even  then,  they  suppose  the  Canaanites  of  the  seven  nation?, 
(^Deut.  vii.)  and  the  males  among  the  Moabites  and  Ammonites 
to  be  excluded  forever  ;  as  they  interpret  Deut.  xxiii.  3. 

18  Q.    Did  the  Jews  rebuild  the  city  of  Jerusalem  ? 
A.    Yes ;  for  the  Babylonian  army  had  broke  down 

the  walls,  and  burnt  the  gates  of  it.    J^Teh.  \.  3. 

19  Q.  Whom  did  God  raise  up  to  carry  on  the  re- 
building the  city  ? 

A.  Nehemiah  the  Jew,  who  was  a  cup-bearer  to  Ar- 
taxerxes  the  king  of  Persia.    JSTehem.  i.  1 — 11. 

20  Q.     How  was  Nehemiah  engaged  herein  ? 

Ji.  When  he  heard  of  the  continuance  of  the  desola- 
tions made  by  the  enemies,  he  fasted  and  prayed  to  God, 
and  then  he  obtained  leave  of  Artaxerxes  the  king  to  go 
up  to  Jerusalem,  and  rebuild  the  city  of  the  sepulchres 
of  his  fathers.    JVe/i^m.  ii.  1 — 7. 

21  Q.  What  further  encouragement  did  Nehemiah 
receive  from  the  king  ? 

A.  He  received  orders  for  the  governors  of  the  pro- 
vinces to  assist  him,  and  to  give  timber  out  of  the  king's 
forest,    ver.  7,  8. 

22  Q.     How  did  Nehemiah  begin  his  work  ? 

A.  He  rode  round  the  city  by  night,  and  took  a  pri- 
vate survey  of  the  ruins  thereof,  and  appointed  a  parti- 
cular part  of  the  walls  and  gates  to  be  repaired  by  par- 
ticular persons  and  their  companies.    JSTehem,  ii.  and  iii. 

23  Q.  What  opposition  did  the  Jews  meet  with  in 
this  part  of  their  work  ? 

A.  Sanballat  the  Samaritan,  and  Tobiah  the  Ammon- 
ite, and  their  accomplices,  at  first  laughed  the  Jews  to 
scorn,  and  then  conspired  to  fight  against  them  while 
they  were  at  work.    JSTehem.  iv.  1 — 7. 

24  Q.  How  did  Nehemiah  prevent  the  mischief  they 
designed  ? 

A.  He  encouraged  the  Jews  to  trust  in  their  God, 
and  appointed  every  man  that  laboured  in  the  work  to 
have  a  weapon  ready  to  defend  himself,  ver,  13 — 23. 

25  Q.  What  reformation  did  Nehemiah  work  among 
them? 

•5.    He  reproved  those  that  took  usury,  and  oppress? 


Chap.  13.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  115 

ed  their  bretliren ;  and  he  set  himself  for  an  example, 
who  thou  ,h  he  was  governor  twelve  years,  took  no  sala- 
ry, but  11  lintained  himself  and  one  hundred  and  fifty 
Jews  at  his  own  charge.    JSTehem.  v.  7 — 19. 

3G  ({.  In  what  manner  did  they  worship  God  when 
the  city  was  built? 

J  ^On  the  first  day  of  the  seventh  month  all  the  peo- 
ple were  j^atiiered  together  in  one  street,  and  Ezra  the 
priest  and  scribe  read  in  the  book  of  the  law,  and  g;ave 
the  sense  of  the  words,  tiiat  they  might  see  their  past  sins 
and  errors,  and  mij^lit  be  instructed  to  yield  a  more  re- 
gular and  exact  obedience  for  time  to  come  ;  and  this 
being  done,  he  blessed  tlie  ^reat  Go<l,  and  all  tiie  people 
answered,  Ampn,  jimev.    J\*ehem.  viii.  1 — 8. 

.Vo/e.  It  i.=  a  remark  of  Hr.  Prideaux,  that  thongh  Ezra*'?  au- 
thority and  ojovernnient  expired  before  this  time,  yet  he  went 
on  as  a  skilful  scribe  of  the  law  of  God,  to  preach  rigliteoupnes?, 
to  perfect  the  reformation,  to  gather  the  several  parts  of  Scrip- 
ture together,  to  set  forth  correct  copies  of  them,  and  to  bring 
jtll  things  in  church  and  state  to  the  rules  thereof: — And  this 
he  did  by  the  assistance  of  the  next  governor,  Nehemiah,  doing 
the  same  things  by  his  authority,  which  before  he  did  by  his 
own. 

9.7  Q.     How  did  they  keep  the  feast  of  tabernacles  r 
»^.     By  dwelling  in  booths  made  of  branches  of  trees 
seven  days  together,  as  God  had  commanded  by  Moses, 
and  they  read  in  the  book  of  the  law  every  day  of  the 
seven,  and  explained  it.     ver.  13 — 18. 

28  Q.  How  did  they  keep  a  fast  on  the  twenty-fourth 
day  of  the  seventh  month  ? 

Jl.  One  fourth  part  of  the  day  they  confessed  their 
sins,  and  another  fourth  jmrt  they  read  in  the  book  of  the 
law,  and  then  they  entered  into  a  covenant  with  an  oath 
to  be  the  i^ord*8  people,  and  the  princes  and  the  priests 
and  the  Levites  sealed  it.    JWhem.  ix.  and  x.  1,2. 

29  Q.  How  were  the  people  disposed  of  in  their  ha- 
bitations ? 

d.  The  rulers  dwelt  at  Jenisalem,  the  rest  of  the 
priests  and  people  cast  lots  to  bring  one  in  ten  to  dwell 
at  Jerusalem,  and  nine  parts  in  the  ether  cities,  that  th<g 
land  might  be  peopled,     jyehem,  xi. 


216  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  13. 

30  Q.  How  was  the  wall  of  Jerusalem  the  holy  city 
dedicated  ? 

A.  The  Levites  came  from  all  places  to  Jerusalem, 
and  joined  with  the  priests  and  the  rulers  in  two  large 
companies,  and  gave  tlianks,  and  oftered  sacrifices,  and 
sung  the  praises  of  God,  so  that  the  joy  of  Jerusalem  was 
lieard  afar  oif.     JS'ehem.  xii.  27 — 43. 

31  <^,  What  iuriher  reformation  did  Nehemiah  bring 
in  among  the  people  ? 

Jl,  He  turned  Tobiah  the  Ammonite  out  of  his  lodg- 
ing in  the  temple,  wljich  Eliashib  the  high  priest  had  pre- 
pared for  him  ;  he  established  the  portion  of  tlie  fruits  of 
the  earth  which  belon5;cd  to  the  Levites ;  he  forbid  tiie 
profanation  of  the  Sal>bath,  by  buying  and  selling,  and 
bearing  burdens ;  and  punished  the  Jews  who  married 
strange  wives.     jYehem,  xiii.  4 — 29. 

32  ^.  What  remarkable  instance  did  Nehemiah  give 
of  his  zeal  in  punishing  those  wiio  married  strangers  ? 

A.  He  drove  av/ay  one  of  the  sons  of  Joiada  the  son 
of  Eliashib  the  high  priest,  for  marrying  the  daughter  of 
Sanballat  the  Heronite,  who  had  hindered  the  Jews  so 
much  in  their  building  several  years  before,    ver,  28. 

.Yo/e.  This  young  man''s  name  was  Manasseh,  as  Josephus 
informs  ns. 

33  ^.  Had  Nehemiah  no  prophet  to  assist  him  in 
this  difficult  work  ? 

Jl,  It  is  supposed  that  Malachi,  the  last  of  the  pro- 
phets, prophesied  about  this  time,  for  he  doth  not  reprove 
them  for  neglect  of  building  as  Haggai  did.  Hag.  i.  4,  9, 
nor  does  he  speak  of  the  finishing  of  the  temple,  as  Zech- 
ariah  did.  chap.  iv.  7,  9.  But  supposing  that  already 
done,  he  reproved  them  about  their  marriage  of  stran- 
gers, and  of  several  wives,  or  of  taking  concubines,  MaL 
ii.  11,  14, 16,  and  their  robbing  God  of  their  tithes,  chap. 
iii.  &c.  and  their  polluting  the  altar,  and  neglect  of  offer- 
ing God  the  best,  chap.  i.  which  were  the  very  things 
which  Nehemiah  corrected  in  his  last  reformation. 


Chap.  14.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  117 

Thus  far  the  Holy  Scripture  has  delivered  down 
to  us  the  history  of  the  transactions  of  God  with 
men,  and  pixrticularly  with  his  own  people,  the  na- 
tion of  Israel,  in  a  long  and  contimicd  succession  of 
events,  from  the  creation  of  the  world  to  the  return 
of  the  Jews  from  the  captivity  of  Babylon,  and  the 
settling  of  the  church  and  state  under  Nehemiah, 
whom  the  king  of  Persia  made  governor  over  the 
land. 

There  are  several  other  historical  matters  related 
in  Scripture  which  belong  to  particular  persons  ;  the 
most  considerable  of  them  are  the  histories  of  Joh 
and  Jonah,  Jeremiah,  Daniel  and  Esther. 


CHAP.  XIV. 

Tfie  Hisfory  of  Job. 

1  Q.     Who  was  Job  ? 

A.  A  most  religious  man  in  the  land  of  Uz,  who  had 
ten  children,  and  very  great  riches.     Job  i.  1 — 3. 

2  (I.  In  what  age  of  the  world  is  Jol)  supposed  to 
have  lived  ? 

J.  In,  or  before  the  days  of  Moses,  because  there  is 
not  the  least  intimation  ofany  transactions  of  God  with 
Israel  in  the  whole  book  of  Job. 

3  Q.  What  particular  act  of  piety  is  related  con- 
cerning him  in  his  prosperous  state  r 

*>i.  When  his  children  had  been  feasting  each  oilier 
in  their  turns,  Job  offered  sacritices  for  tliein,  lest  they 
should  have  sinned,  and  provoked  God  in  the  seasons 
of  their  mirth,  ver,  4,  5. 

4  Q.     What  were  the  alilictions  that  tell  upon  Job  r 
•4.     God  permitted  the  devil,  by  kindling  of  li^^litnin?:, 

and  by  stirrnig  up  robbers  and  plunderers  aiuonj^  his 
heathen  neighbours,  to  bereave  him  of  all  his  cattle  and 
his  wealth  in  one  dav,  and  to  destrov  all  his  children. 


US  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  14, 

eveii  seven  sons  and  three  daughters,  by  a  tempest 
which  blew  down  the  house  in  which  they  were  feasting. 
ver.  6 — 19. 

5  ((.  Was  the  devil  suffered  to  vent  his  malice  upon 
the  person  of  Job  ? 

^.  Yes ;  God  permitted  him  to  smite  Job  w  ith  sore 
boils  from  the  sole  of  his  foot  to  the  crown  of  his  head. 
Job  ii.  6,  7. 

6  Q.  What  was  the  design  of  God  in  these  provi- 
dences toward  Job  ? 

.^.  To  try  the  strength  of  his  piety,  and  to  set  him 
ap  as  an  example  of  patience,  both  in  the  exercise  of  it, 
and  in  the  rewards  of  it.     Jolf  xxiii.  10.  James  v.  11. 

7  Q.  What  was  the  behaviour  of  Job  under  this 
trial  ? 

*3.  H§  blessed  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  did  not 
murmur  at  his  providence.     Job  i.  20 — 22,  and  ii.  10. 

8  Q.  What  was  a  further  aggravation  of  Job's  dis- 
tress ? 

J.  That  his  wife  tempted  him  to  abandon  all  reli- 
gion, because  God  suffered  him  to  be  thus  afflicted.  Job 
ii.  9, 10. 

9  Q.     Had  Job  any  comforter  ? 

Jt,  Tliree  friends  came  from  the  neighbouring  places 
to  mourn  with  him  and  comfort  him.     ver.  1 1 . 

10  Q.  How  long  did  his  patience  continue  in  this 
perfect  exercise  of  it  ? 

A,  Seven  days  he  sat  down  in  ashes,  and  was  silent 
under  the  hand  of  God.    ver.  13. 

1 1  Q.  Wherein  did  any  impatience  of  Job  at  first 
appear  ? 

J,  In  cursing  the  day  on  whicli  lie  was  born.  Job 
iii.  1~ 16. 

12  Q.  What  were  the  sentiments  of  Job's  three 
friends  on  this  mournful  occasion,  and  how  did  they  car- 
ry it  towards  him  ?  , 

^.  When  they  saw  him  to  be  so  dreadfully  afflicted, 
they  rashly  concluded  he  had  been  guilty  of  very  great 
sins,  notwithstanding  his  outward  profession  of  pietv, 


;,a|).  14.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  119 

and  therefore  they  severely  reproved  him  for  hU  griev- 
ous complaints,    chap.  iv.  &c. 

13  Q.     How  did  Job  answer  to  their  charges  ? 

•i.  He  maintained  against  them  ail  this  great  truth, 
^hat  God  did  sometimes  afflict  those  who  were  innocent, 
for  wise  and  unsearchable  reasons ;  and  he  vindicated 
his  own  innocence,  placing  his  trust  in  God.   chap,  ix.  &c 

14  Q.  Wherein  did  Job  fail  in  his  duty  towards  God 
in  this  matter? 

A.  Under  the  violence  of  his  distress,  and  the  most 
unjust  accusations  of  his  friends,  he  sometimes  spake 
words  of  unreasonable  despair,  and  sometimes  he  used 
rash  and  unbecoming  language  against  the  great  God, 
and  vindicated  himself  too  much,  as  though  he  had  been 
pei'fectly  innocent  before  God  as  well  as  before  men. 
chap.  vi.  &c. 

15  (^.  How  was  the  controversy  between  Job  and  his 
friends  compromised  at  last  r 

A.  Eliliu,  a  fourth  friend,  who  was  younger  than  the 
rest,  and  had  come  to  visit  liim,  took  a  middle  way  to 
end  this  controversy,  and  spoke  more  agreeably  to  the 
truth:  and  though  he  reproved  the  three  friends  for  as- 
serting that  God  would  never  afflict  any  innocent  man 
so  much  as  Job  was  afflicted  ;  yet  he  severely  reproved 
Job  for  insisting  so  much  on  his  own  innocence  before 
God.     chap,  xxxii.  &c. 

1 6  Q.  vVhat  was  the  foundation  of  Elihu's  argument 
on  this  occasion  ? 

J.  The  supreme  majesty  and  holiness  of  Gotl,  the 
meanness  and  sinfulness  of  the  best  of  men  in  liis  sight ; 
his  sovereij^n  dominion  overall  things, and  the  unsearch- 
ablencss  of  his  wisdom  and  conduct  toward  men.  chap. 
xxxiii.  and  xxxvi.  ccc. 

17  Q.  How  d'd  God  himself  manifestly  engage  in 
deciding  this  contitnersy  r 

•^.  He  greatly  confirmed  the  sentiments  and  opin- 
ions of  Elihu,  by  asserting  and  displaying  his  own  su- 
preme wisdom  and  power,  his  grandeur  and  dominion 
over  all  things,  by  a  voice  out  of  tl.c  whirlwind,  chap. 
•xxxv.  &c'. 


1^0  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  15. 

1 8  Q.     What  effect  had  this  upon  his  sei-vant  Job  ? 
^.    Job  confessed  his  folly,  abhorred  himself  for  his 

sin  under  the  apprehension  of  the  holiness  and  the  majes- 
ty of  God,  and  repented  in  dust  and  ashes.  Job  xlii.  1 — 6. 

19  Q.  How  did  God  deal  with  the  three  friends  of 
Job? 

J.  He  disapproved  of  their  false  accusations  of  Job, 
and  their  wrong  sentiments  concerning  God  himself  and 
his  conduct,  and  bid  them  offer  a  sacrifice  of  atonement, 
and  Job  to  pray  for  them.     ver.  7,  8. 

20  Q.  WImt  tokens  of  approbation  and  favour  did 
God  shew  to  Job  ? 

J,  While  Job  prayed  for  his  friends,  God  released 
him  from  all  his  afflictions,  and  afterward  gave  him  ten 
children,  as  he  had  at  first,  he  doubled  his  estate,  and 
prolonged  his  life  to  four  generations,  chap,  xlii. 
10—17. 


CHAP.  XV. 

The  History  of  Jonah, 

1  Q.     Who  was  Jonah? 

A.  A  prophet  who  lived  about  the  time  of  Jeroboam 
the  second,  king  of  Israel.  Jonah  i.  1.  2  Kin^s  xiv.  25. 
There  is  no  need  of  particular  citations  of  chapter  and 
verse  for  the  history  of  Jonah,  since  the  whole  is  contain- 
ed in  four  short  chapters. 

2  Q.     Whither  did  God  send  him  ? 

A.  He  was  sent  to  Nineveh,  to  pronounce  destruc- 
tion upon  tliat  great  city  for  their  wickedness. 

3  Q.     How  did  Jonah  disobey  God  ? 

A.  He  took  shipping  and  fled  toward  Tarshish,  from 
the  presence  of  the  I^ord,  because  he  supposed  that  the 
mercy  of  God  would  spare  Nineveh  after  he  had  pro- 
nounced destruction  upon  it,  and  then  he  should  be 
counted  a  false  prophet. 

4  Q.     What  befel  him  in  this  voyage  f 


Chap.  .  .        -CRIPTURE  HISTORY.  1:21 


A.  There  arose  a  tei*rible  tempe8t,\midi^t^fedaTigered 
ilie  ship ;  and  Jonah  being  conscious  oN^W^'^'H  guilt, 
advisee!  the  sailors  to  cast liiin  into  the  sea,  Mi^^en  the 
storm  ceased. 

5  Q.     What  became  of  Jonah  ? 

A.  A  great  fish  swallowed  him  up,  and  he  continued 
in  the  bowels  of  the  fish  three  dajs  and  three  nights. 

6  Q.    Did  he  ever  come  to  the  shore  again  ? 

A.  At  his  repentance  and  earnest  prayer,  God  com- 
manded the  fish  to  vomit  out  Jonah  upon  the  dry  land. 
Jonah  ii. 

7  Q.  What  service  did  God  assign  to  Jonah  after 
iliis  great  deliverance  ? 

Jl,  He  sent  him  the  second  time  to  Nineveh,  to 
preach  destiuciion  against  it  within  forty  days.  Jonah  iii. 

8  Q.  What  effect  had  this  preaching  upon  the  peo- 
ple? 

A,  The  king  and  the  people  put  on  sackcloth,  mourn- 
ed for  their  sifis,  turned  from  their  evil  ways,  and  cried 
mightily  to  God  for  mercy,  whereupon  God  withheld 
the  punishment  which  he  threatened. 

9  Q.  How  did  Jonah  resent  this  merciful  dealing  of 
God  with  Nineveh  r 

^.  He  feared  he  should  be  counted  a  false  prophet, 
and,  in  an  angry  temper,  desired  God  to  take  away  his 
-life.    Jonah  iv. 

10  Q.  What  did  God  do  to  convince  him  of  the  un- 
reasonableness of  his  an^er  ? 

*.i.  He  made  a  gourtl  grow  up  in  a  ni^ht,  which  shel- 
tered him  from  the  heat  of  the  sun,  and  ne  caused  it  to 
^vither  the  next  day ;  upon  which  Jonah  murmured 
against  God. 

11  Q.  How  did  God  argue  with  Jonah  upon  this  oc- 
currence ? 

J?.     God  rc])roved  the  prophet,  that  he  should  be  so 
much  concerned  about  A  gourd,  a  senseless  plant,  which 
rew  up  in  one  night,  and  ou\^  aflbrded  him  some  con- 
»eniency  of  life  ;  and  that  lie  sliould  be  no  more  concern- 
ed about  tlie  lives  of  so  great  and  populous  a  city,  which 
11 


i22  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  16u 

besides  men  and  women,  had  above  six  score  thousand 
children  in  it. 


CHAP.  XVI. 

The  History  of  Jeremiah, 

i   Q.     Who  was  Jeremiah  ? 

A,  One  of  the  priests  in  the  land  of  Benjamittj  whom 
Ood  called  to  be  a  prophet  when  he  was  very  young,  in 
the  days  of  Josiah  king  of  Judah.    Jer,  i.  1 — 7. 

2  Q.  What  encouragement  had  he  when  he  was  so 
young  to  pronounce  the  judgments  of  God  against  the 
people  ? 

A.  God  put  forth  his  hand  and  touched  his  moutli,  te 
teignify  liis  divine  inspiration,  and  promised  his  presence 
with  him  to  deliver  him  from  all  that  should  oppose  him, 
ver,  7 — 19. 

3  Q.  What  was  the  chief  message  with  which  Jere- 
miah was  sent  to  the  people,  and  to  the  princes  and  kings 
of  Judah  ? 

A.  That  Jerusalem  should  be  destroyed,  and  the  peo- 
ple and  princes  should  be  carried  away  captive  into 
Babylon,  because  of  their  sins,  and  remain  thei*e  seventy 
years.    From  chap.  vii.  to  xxv.  ver,  11,  12. 

4  Q.  By  what  method  did  Jeremiah  set  before  them 
their  sins  and  these  judgments  of  God  ? 

A,  By  some  veiy  plain  and  direct  speeches,  by  an 
example  of  the  Rechabites  set  before  them,  and  by  some 
parables  or  emblems. 

5  Q.  fHow  did  Jeremiah  sliew  them  tlie  heinousness 
of  their  sins  by  a  view  of  the  example  of  the  Rechabites? 

A.  Since  all  the  family  of  Rechab  abstained  from 
jtvine,  which  is  no  unlawful  liquor,  merely  because  Jona- 
jdab  their  father  forbid  them ;  much  more  should  the  Jews 
have  abstained  from  those  practices  which  are  utterly 
•unlawful,  when  the  God  of  Israel  had  forbid   them^ 


Chap.  IG.        SCRIPTURE  lllSTORr.  t2S^ 

6  ^,  What  were  sonic  of  the  emblems  by  which  God 
onlered  Jeremiah  to  foretel  their  calamities? 

A.  A  linen  j^irdle,  a  J)otter^^  vessel,  an  earthen  bot- 
tle, yokes  ot"  wood  and  of  iron,  &c. 

7  ({.     Wh;it  was  dcvii;ned  by  the  linen  j^irdle  r 

A.  Jeremiali  was  commanded  to  hide  it  in  tlie  hole  ot 
a  rock  near  the  river  Euphrates,  and  when  he  soucrht  it 
aj»;ain,  it  was  quite  spoiled  ;  so  God  decreed  to  spod  the 
piide  of  Jerusalem  by  the  nation  that  dwelt  near  Eu- 
phrates, that  is,  Assyiia.     Jfr.  Xu'i. 

8  ({,    \V  hat  was  intended  by  the  potter's  vessel  P' 

J.  As,  when  the  vessel  of  clay  was  spoiled  in  the 
making,  the  form  of  it  was  changecl,  and  it  was  moulded 
up  into  another  vessel,  as  the  potter  pleased  ;  so  God 
declared  his  power  over  the  house  of  Israel,  to  manage 
and  dispose  of  them  as  he  pleased  ;  and  that  he  would 
change  his  pro\idences  and  their  state,  according  to  their 
behaviour.     Jer.  xviii. 

9  Q.  What  further  lesson  was  taught  by  an  earthen 
bottle? 

wJ.  Jeremiah  was  commanded  to  break  the  bottle  in 
the  sight  of  tlie  priests  and  the  elders,  and  to  declare, 
Thus  saith  the  Lord,  even  so  will  I  break  this  nation 
and  this  citt/y  that  it  shall  not  be  made  whole  again, 
Jer.  xix. 

10  Q.  What  did  Jeremiah  teach  them  by  the  emblems 
of  bonds  and  yokes? 

Ji.  In  the  days  of  Jelioiakim  king  of  Judah,  God 
commanded  Jeremiah  to  make  bonds  and  yokes,  and  put 
them  upon  his  own  neck,  and  tlien  to  send  tiiem  to  the 
kings  of  tlie  nations  round  about,  to  assure  them  that 
they  should  all  be  made  subject  to  Nebuchadnezzar  king 
of  Babylon.     Jer.  xxvii.  1 — 12. 

1 1  ((.     A\'ho  were  Jeremiah's  chief  enemies  ? 

v'J.  The  priests  and  the  false  prophets,  who  would 
have  put  him  to  death  in  the  reign  of  Jehoiakim.  Jer. 
xxvi.  1 — 8. 

12  ^.     Who  saved  Jeremiali  at  that  time  ? 

.'?.     'F'iie  princes  and  the  pe(»j)K^  saved  him  from  death. 


124  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  16. 

though  the  king  slew  Urijah  the  prophet,  who. confirmed 
the  words  of  Jeremiah,     rer.  10 — 24. 

13  Q.  What  abuses  did  Jeremiah  receive  from 
Pashur  the  priest  ? 

Ji,  Pashur  smote  the  prophet  and  put  him  in  the 
stocks.     Jer,  xx.  1  ^  2. 

14  Q.  What  evil  was  denounced  against  Pashur  on 
this  account  ? 

Jl,  God  changed  his  name  to  Magor-roissabib,  to  de- 
note that  he  should  be  a  terror  to  himself  and  to  all  his 
friends ;  and  foretold  that  he  should  be  led  captive  to 
Babylon,  and  die  there.  ver>  S — 6. 

15  Q.  How  did  Jeremiah's  patience  hold  out  under 
the  many  injuries  he  received  ? 

Ji,  In  the  main  he  continued  to  trust  in  God,  but 
once  he  murmured  against  God,  refused  to  prophecy, 
and  cursed  the  day  of  his  birth,  ver.  7 — 18. 

16  Q.  In  what  manner  did  God  overcome  his  mur- 
muring and  his  disobedience? 

Jl,  The  word  of  the  Lord  was  in  his  heart  like  a 
burning  fire  shut  up  in  his  bones,  and  he  could  not  for- 
bear speaking,  rer.  9. 

17  Q.  How  did  Jeremiah  publish  his  prophecies^ 
when  he  could  not  appear  in  public  himself,  being  shut 
ap  in  prison  ? 

Ji,  He  commanded  Banich  the  sciibe  to  write  the 
words  of  his  prophecies  from  liis  mouth  in  a  volume  of  a 
book,  and  to  read  them  in  the  cars  of  the  people  in  the 
temple  on  a  fast-day.    Jer.  xxxvi.  1—10. 

18  Q.  What  efiect  had  this  upon  Jehoiakim  the 
king  ? 

A.  When  lie  heard  of  it  he  sent  for  the  volume,  read 
a  little  of  it,  cut  it  with  a  pen-knife,  and  burnt  it  in  the 
Fne,  and  then  sent  to  seize  Jeremiah  and  Baruch ;  but 
God  by  his  kind  providence  kept  them  hid  from  the  king. 
I'er.  ^2C)— 26.        ^-^  ,       - 

19  Qi  W^hat  was  the  next  message  from  God  to  Jere- 
niiah  ? 

.3.  "That  lie  should  take  anotiier  volume,  and  that 


Chap.  16.         SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  125- 

Baruch  should  write  over  again  from  his  mouth  tlie  same- 
words,  and  many  others  of  the  same  import,  ver,  27,  32. 

20  ({,  What  diti  Jeremiah  prophecy  concerning  Je- 
hoahaz,  the  son  of  Josiaii  kingof  Judah,  who  is  here  call- 
ed Shallujn  ? 

,i.  That  he  should  die  a  captive  in  the  land  of  Egypt. 
Jer.  xxii.  1 1,  12.     2  lungs  xxiii.  31—34. 

21  ^.  What  did  he  say  concerning  Jeiioiakim  hi* 
brother  ? 

J,  That  he  should  die  unlamented,  and  be  buried 
like  an  ass,  drawn  and  cast  out  beyond  the  gates  of  Je- 
rusalem.   Jer.  xxii,  18,  20. 

22  Q.  Wliat  did  he  pronounce  concerning  Jehoiachin, 
who  is  also  called  Jeconiah  and  Coniah? 

•^.  That  he  should  die  in  a  strange  land,  and  none  of 
his  seed  sliould  sit  on  the  throne  of  Judah,  Jer.  xxii.  24 
— 30,  and  he  accordingly  was  carried  to  Babylon,  and 
lived  long  there,  and  there  he  died.     Jer.  lii.  31. 

23  ^.  Wliat  advice  did  he  give  to  Zedekiali  king  of 
Judah  ? 

•H.  To  submit  willingly  to  the  yoke  of  the  king  of 
Babylon,  that  both  he  and  his  people  might  meet  with- 
better  treatment.     Jer.  xxvii.  12,  18. 

24  ({.  How  did  the  false  prophet  Hananiah  oppose 
Jcren>iah  ? 

J.  He  took  the  yoke  from  the  prophet  Jeremiah's 
neck,  which  probably  he  had  worn  for  some  years ;  and 
IS  he  brake  it,  he  declared,  the  Lord  would"  break  the 
yoke  of  Nebuchadnez,zar  in  two  years  frmn  the  necks  of 
the  nations.    Jer.  xxviii.  1 — 11. 

25  ({.     How  did  Jeremiah  answer  him  ? 

^.  Tliat  God  had  ap|)ointed  yokes  of  iron  instead  of. 
yokes  of  wood,  for  all  the  nations  to  serve  the  king  of 
Babylon  ;  and  tliat  Hananiah  should  die  in  that  year  for 
his  falsehood  ;  which  came  to  pass  in  two  months  after. 
ver.  10—17. 

26  (^.  Among  all  these  predictions  of  distress,  did 
not  Jeremiah  prophecy  any  thing  comfortable  to  the  na- 
tion of  Israel  r 

d.     Yes ;  he  foretold  the  return  of  the  Jews  to  their 
12* 


126  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap,  m 

own  land  with  joy,  after  seventy  years  captivity  ;  and  he 
encouraged  their  faith  and  hope  by  many  gracious  prom- 
ises of  the  Messiah  who  was  to  come,  chap,  xxv.  xxix. 
XXX.  and  xxxi. 

27  Q,  How  did  king  Zedekiah  deal  with  Jeremiah 
the  prophet  when  Nebuchadnezzar  besieged  Jerusalem  ? 

.5.  He  shut  him  up  in  the  court  of  the  prison  which 
was  in  the  king's  house,  because  he  foretold  that  Jerusa- 
lem should  be  taken,  and  that  Zedekiah  the  king  should 
not  escape,  but  be  caiTied  to  Babylon.    Jer.  xxxii.  1 — 5. 

28  ^.  What  did  Jeremiah  do  in  prison  to  assure 
them  that  the  Jews  should  return  from  captivity,  and 
possess  the  cities  of  Judah  again  ? 

A.  By  express  order  from  God  he  bought  a  field  of 
his  cousin  Hananeel,  paid  him  the  money,  subscribed  the 
evidence,  and  sealed  it  before  witnesses,  as  an  emblem, 
and  pledge  of  what  should  be  done  in  Jerusalem  hereaf- 
ter, ver.  6 — 16,  44. 

29  Q.    What  did  J-eremiah  dowhen  he  was  at  liberty  ? 
d.    He  endeavoured  to  flee  out  of  Jerusalem,  but  he 

was  seized  by  the  guard  upon  suspicion  of  falling  away 
to  the  Chaldeans,  and  he  was  thrust  down  into  a  dungeon 
by  the  princes,  because  he  prophecied  the  destruction  of 
ihe  city.  chap,  xxxvii.  11 — 16,  and  xxxviii.  1 — 6. 

30  Q.    What  relief  did  the  prophet  lind  liere  ? 

Jl.  When  he  sunk  in  the  mire,  Ebedmelech  the 
Ethiopian,  a  servant  in  the  king's  house,  drew  him  up> 
with  ropes,  by  leave  from  the  king  j  and  he  remained  in 
the  court  of  the  prison  till  the  city  was  taken,  ver. 
7—14. 

51  Q.  What  favour  did  God  shew  to  Ebedmelech- 
on  this  account  ? 

^.  He  assured  him  he  should  not  die  by  the  sword^ 
but  his  life  should  be  given  him,  because  he  trusted  in 
the  Lord.    Jer..  xxxix.  16. 

32  Q.  When  Zedekiah  the  king  sent  for  Jeremiah, 
what  message  had  lie  from  God  ? 

Jl.  He  repeated  his  advice  to  the  king  of  Judah,  to 
go  forth  and  submit  to  the  king  of  Babylon^in  order  to^ 
save  himself  and  the  city,  ver,  17,  &c. 


ap.  16.       SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  1 V 

S3  O.    Did  the  king  hearken  to  his  advice  ? 

A.  No;  he  did  not  ^bey  tlie  prophet;  so  the  ciiy 
was  taken,  and  burnt,  the  princes  of  Judali  were  slain, 
and  the  king's  sons  were  put  to  deatli  before  hiB  eyes  : 
then  tlie  king  hatl  liis  eyes  put  out,  and  he  was  carried 
in  chains  to  Babvlon,  and  died  there.  Jcr.  xxxix.  1 — 10, 
and  lii.  8— 11. 

Note.  Then  >vas  fulfjlled  the  prophecy  of  Ezekiel  conceni- 
In<r  Zedekiah^cAoy;.  xii.  23.     J  tcill  bring  him  to  Bahylon^  the. 

d  of  the  Chaldeans;  yet  shall  he  not  see  it  ^  though  he  shall 

:  tlie  re. 

34  Q.  What  became  of  Jeremiah  after  the  city  wag. 
taken? 

►^.     Nc4)uchadne7-7.ar  gave  orders  to  tlie  officers  of  his 

army  to  take  care  of  him  ;  and  to  give  him  his  liberty  Ur 

go  where  he  pleased.    Jer.  xxxix.  11,  and  xl.  4,  5. 

55  Q.     Whither  did  Jeremiah  choose  to  go  ? 

vi.     He  chose  to  continue  in  the  land  of  Israel,  and 

ut  himself  under  the  protection  of  Gedaliah,  whom  the 

ing  of  Babylon  made  governor  in  the  land.     tvr.  6,  T. 

36  Q.     Did  Jeremiah  continue  under  his  protection  ? 
A.     Gedaliah  was  (piickly  slain  by  a  faction  raised  by 

Jshmael ;  and  Ishmael  also  was  put  to  flight  by  another 
faction  under  the  command  of  Joiianun.    Jer.  xl,  41. 

37  0.    ^^  hat  did  Johanan  do  with  Jeremiah  ? 

J.  lie  carried  him  and  a  multitude  of  the  people  in- 
to Kgypt,  in  direct  opposition  to  the  advice  which  Jere- 
niiali  gave  him  from  tlie  Lord.     chap.  xlii.  and  xliii. 

38  Q.     What  did  Jeremiah  do  in  the  land  of  Kgypt  ? 
J.     He  severely  reproved  the  Jews  for  their  idolatry 

there;  he  denounced  ruin  upcm  them;  he  took  great 
stones  and  hid  them  in  the  clay  at  the  entrance  of  Phari- 
oh  the  king  of  Egypt's  palace,  and  foretold,  that  Nebu- 
chadnezzar shoufa  conquer  Egypt,  and  should  set  his 
throne  upon  those  stones.    .7^r.  xliii.  9,  10. 

39  Q.  Among  the  several  prophecies  against  the  na- 
tions round  about^did  not  Jeremiah  foreteithe  destruc- 
tion of  Babylon  ? 

j1.  Yes ;  he  pronounced  the  severe  judgments  of  God 
against  Babylon,  who  had  plundered  Jerusalem  in  a  no- 


I 


m&  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  i:V 

table  and  dreadful  manner,  as  Isaiah  did  before  him ;  all 
which  were  eminently  fulfilled,  partly  when  Cyrus  the 
Persian  took  the  city  of  Babylon,  and  partly  in  fol- 
lowing  times.     J^r.  1.  and  li. 

40  Q.  What  emblem  or  pledge  did  Jeremiah  give  of 
the  accomplishment  of  this  prophecy  ? 

wf.  He  wrote  in  a  book  all  these  threatenings,  and 
bid  Seraiah,  one  of  the  Jewish  captives,  read  it  when  he 
came  to  Babylon,  then  bind  a  stone  to  it,  and  cast  it  into- 
the  river  Euphrates,  and  say,  Tims  shall  Babylon  sink, 
and  shall  never  rise  again/  Jer,  \\.  5d — G4» 


CHAP.  XVII. 

The  History  of  Daniel. 

1  Q.     Who  was  Daniel  ? 

Ji,  A  young  man  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  who  was  car- 
ried captive  by  Nebuchadnezzar  king  of  Babylon,  in  the 
reign  of  Jehoiakim  king  of  Judah.    l)an.  i.  1 — 6. 

2  Q.     How  was  he  disposed  of  in  Babylon  ? 

J.  Daniel  and  his  fellows,  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and 
Abednego,  were  appointed  to  be  nourished  by  the  king's 
provision,  and  to  be  trained  up  in  the  learning  of  the 
Chaldeans,  that  in  three  years  time  they  might  stand  be^ 
fore  the  king.    ver.  5,  6. 

3  Q.  And  did  they,  being  Jews,  eat  of  the  king's  pro- 
vision, which  was  prepared  after  the  manner, of  the 
heathens  ? 


J,  No;  they  chose  to  be  fed  with  pulse  and  water, 
rather  than  defile  themselves  with  the  king's  meat,  ver, 
8—14. 

4  Q.     How  did  they  thrive  by  it? 

^.  Their  countenances  appeared  fairer,  and  their  as- 
pect was  better  approved  by  Melzar,  wjio  took  care  o£ 
them,  than  the  rest  who  fed  on  royal  dainties,      ver,  15, 

5  Q.  How  did  they  approve  themselves  when  they 
were  called  before  the  kino;  ? 


Chap.  17.       SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  1^ 

»i.  The  king  fuund  thera  far  wiser  and  better  than  all 
ibe  astroloj:!;ers  and  masjicians  in  his  kingdom,      ver.  20. 

6  Q.  AVhat  was  the  first  special  occasion  of  Daniel's 
advancement  at  court  ? 

J.  Nebuchadnezzar  dreamed  a  dream  which  much 
troubled  him,  yet  he  forgot  it  in  the  morning ;  and  sent 
orders  to  destroy  all  tlie  wise  men  and  astrolo'^ers,  be- 
cause they  could  not  tell  hiui  both  the  dream  and  the  in- 
terpretation thereof.     Dan.u.X — 13. 

7  Q.    How  did  Daniel  obtain  this  secret  from  God? 
A,    lie  engaged  himself  and  l\is  three  companions, 

■iiadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abednego,  in  prayer  to  tlie  God 
heaven,  that  he  would  reveal  this  secret  to  them,  that 
tliey  might  not  all  perish  together  witli  the  astrologers, 
whom  the  kin^had  doomed  to  death.     Dan.  ii.  16 — 18. 

8  (^.  W'hm,  was  this  dream  which  Daniel  rehearsed 
before  the  king  ? 

Ji.  There  appearctl  a  blight  and  terrible  image, 
whose  head  was  ^Id,  his  breast  an<l  arms  of  silver,  his 
belly  and  thighs  of  trass,  his  legs  of  iron,  and  his  feet 

Eart  of  iron  ami  part  of  clay,  which  was  dashed  to  pieces 
y  a  stone,  and  the  stone  became  a  mountain,  and  filled 
the  whole  earth.     I'ev.  31 — 35. 

9  (I.     What  was  the  interpretation  of  it  ? 

.(/.  It  signifies  the  four  great  monarchies  of  the  ^\%*ld» 
namely,  the  Assyrian,  the  Persian,  tlie  Grecian,  and  the 
Roman,  which  sfiould  destroy  one  another  in  succession  ; 
and  the  last  of  them  should  be  destroyed  by  the  kingdom 
of  Clirist,  v.hich  should  spread  through  the  earth  and  re- 
main for  ever.     ver.  31 — 45. 

10  (/.  What  honours  did  Nebuchadnezzar  bestow 
on  Daniel  on  tliis  occasion  ? 

*:?.  He  ack;i(>wledged  the  supremacy  of  the  God  of 
Daniel,  he  made  Daniel  ruler  over  Babylon,  and  at  liis  re- 
quest made  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abe»lnego,  officer'* 
under  liim.     ver,  46—40. 

1 1  <{.  WU'At  iMicame  of  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and 
Abednego  ?  * 

jL  Notwitlistandiag  tlic  honour  the  king  had  given 
Ikem,  yet  they  were  cast  into  a  fiery  furnace,  because 


130  SCRIPTURE   HISTORY.       Chap,  ir: 

they  would  not  worship  a  huge  gold  image  which  king 
Nebuchadnezzar  had  set  up.     Dan.  iii.  1 — 21. 

12  (^.  What  remarkable  providence  attended  their 
being  cast  into  the  furnace  ? 

S'.  The  king  being  enr^.ged  at  them  for  refusing  bold- 
ly to  worship  this  image,  commanded  the  furnace  to  be 
made  seven  times  hotter,  even  to  such  a  degree,  that  the 
flame  slew  the  men  that  cast  them  into  it.     ver.  22. 

13  ^,     How  wore  they  saved  in  the  fiery  furnace? 

A.  Though  these  three  men  were  cast  into  the  fur- 
nace bound,  and  fell  down  in  the  fire,  yet  presently  af- 
terward, the  king  saw  four  njen  loose  walking  in  the  fire, 
and  they  had  no  hurt ;  and  the  form  of  the  fourth  was 
like  t!ie  son  of  God,  ver.MS,  24,  25,  tliat  is,  some  glori- 
ous person  whom  Nebuchadnezzar  could  not  better  de- 
scribe than  as  a  heavenly  being,  a  son  of  God. 

14  Q.     AVhat  influence  had  this  upon  the  king? 

♦5.  He  called  them  to  come  out  of  the  furnace,  and 
blessed  their  God  wliohad  sent  his  ai^l  to  deliver  them, 
and  made  a  decree,  that  no  man  fhould  speak  against 
the  God  of  the  Jews.    ver.  26 — 28. 

1 5  Q.  What  other  dream  of  Nebuchadnezzar's  did 
Daniel  interpret  ? 

•A.  The  dream  of  a  tall  and  spreading  tree  that  was 
outflow  n,  and  the  stump  of  it  was  left  in  the  earth,  and 
that  it  should  have  a  beast's  heart  given  it  instead  of  a 
man's  for  seven  years.    Dan/wA — 16. 

16  Q.     Wliat  interpretation  did  Daniel  give  to  it? 
Ji.    That  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  should  be  driven 

from  his  kingdom,  should  run  mad,  and  dwell  seven 
years  v/ith  the  beasts  of  tlie  earth,  and  then  be  restored 
to  his  reason  and  his  kingdom  again.   ver»  19 — 27. 

17  Q.     How  soon  was  this  fulfilled  ? 

JI,  At  the  end  of  twelve  months  he  was  walking  in 
the  palace  of  Babylon,  and  boasting  of  his  grandeur  and 
majesty,  and  there  fell  a  voice  from  heaven  that  his  king- 
dom was  departed,  and  he  should  be  driven  from  men: 
and  immedi^ftely  he  was  seized  with  madness,  and  the 
seotence  was  executed  upon  him,  and  he  fled  from  the 


V  iuip.  17.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  131 

society  of  men,  and  herded  with  the  beasts  in  tlie  open 
field,   rer.  28— 33. 

18  Q.  What  did  Nebuchadnezzar  do  at  seven  years 
end,  w  lien  his  understanding  and  his  kingdom  were  res- 
tored to  him  ? 

Q.  He  did  further  honours  to  the  God  of  heaven,  and 
published  tliis  history  of  himself,  and  these  signs  and 
wonders  of  the  great  God,  throu^out  all  his  dominions. 
ver.  1—3. 

19  Q.  AVhat  notice  was  taken  of  Daniel  in  the  time 
of  Belshazzar,  the  grandson  of  Nebuchadnezzar  ? 

J,  He  was  sent  for  to  court  to  read  and  interpret 
three  or  four  words  which  were  written  upon  the  wall 
by  the  apparition  of  a  hand  while  Belshazzar  was  feast- 
ing.    Dan.y.S — 16. 

20  Q.  What  was  there  in  Belshazzar's  feast  that 
eminently  provoked  God  against  him  ? 

^.  He  and  his  nobles  drank  in  the  holy  vessels  that 
were  taken  out  of  the  temple  of  God  at  Jerusalem,  and 
at  the  same  time  they  praised  their  gods  of  gold  and 
silver,  of  wo<kI  and  stone.    Dan.  v.  1— -4. 

21  ({.  Wliat  was  the  meaning  of  this  writing  against 
the  wall? 

»i.  Tha|^  God  bad  finished  Belshazzar's  kingdom, 
and  given  it  to  the  Medes  and   Persians,    ver.  25 — 28. 

22  Q.     What  honour  was  done  to  Daniel  ? 

^.  He  was  immediately  clothed  in  scarlet,  with  a 
chain  of  gold,  and  made  the  tiiird  ruler  in  the  kingdom. 
uer.  29. 

23  Q.  W^hen  wag  this  sentence  executed  on  Bel- 
->hazzar  ? 

J.  He  was  slain  that  very  night,  by  the  army  under 
the  command  of  Cyrus  the  general,  who  after  a  long 
siege  took  the  city  of  Babylon,  and  the  kingdom  was 
translated  to  Danus  the  Mede,  the  emperor  of  tl\e 
Medes  and  Persians,    ver.  30,  31. 

24  ({.  Did  Daniel  lose  his  preferment  by  the  change 
.of  tlie  kingdom  ? 

^.    No ;  for  Darius  set  Daniel  over  all  the  hundred 


13^  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Cbap.  1?: 

and  twenty  princes,  and   made  him   first  of  the   three 
presidents.     Dan.  vi.  I — 3. 

25  Q.  How  did  the  envy  of  the  presidents  and  the 
princes  persecute  him  on  this  occasion  ? 

A.  They  knew  that  Daniel  would  pray  to  his  God, 
and  they  persuaded  king  Darius  to  sign  a  decree,  that  if 
any  man  should  ask  a  petition  of  any  God  or  man  for 
thirty  days,  besides  of  the  king  himself,  he  should  be  cast 
into  the  lions'  den.  ver,  4 — 9. 

26  Q.  What  did  Daniel  do  when  he  heard  of  this 
•decree  ? 

A,  He  went  to  his  house,  and  the  windows  being 
open  toward  Jerusalem,  he  prayed  to  his  God  three  times 
a  day,  according  to  his  custom,  ver,  10. 

27  Q.     What  was  the  consequence  of  this  ? 

.4.  Though  the  king  himself  was  sorry  for  his  decree, 
and  tried  all  means  to  save  Daniel,  yet  his  enemies  pre- 
vailed to  have  him  cast  into  the  den  of  lions,  because 
the  laws  of  the  Medes  and  Persians  were  not  to  be  alter- 
ed, ver.  11' — 17. 

28  Q.  Wherein  did  the  king  further  shew  his  con- 
cern for  Daniel  ? 

^,  He  passed  the  night  without  music  or  sleep,  he 
went  early  to  the  lions'  den  in  the  morniiigpand  found 
Daniel  safe,  to  his  great  joy ;  for  God  had  shut  the 
mouths  of  the  lions,  that  they  did  him  no  hurt.  ver. 
18—23. 

29  ^.  Wherein  did  king  Darius  manifest  his  resent- 
ment against  the  enemies  of  Daniel  ? 

*^.  He  cast  them  with  their  wives  and  children,  into 
the  den  of  lions,  who  broke  all  their  bones  immediately. 
ver,  24. 

30  Q.  What  special  regard  did  Darius  shew  to  the 
true  God  on  this  occasion  ? 

•B.  He  sent  a  decree  through  all  nations,  that  men 
should  fear  the  God  of  Daniel,  ver,  25. 

31  Q.  What  are  the  other  most  remarkable  things 
in  the  history  of  Daniel  ? 

j4.  The  visions  which  he  saw,  the  excellent  prayer 
^vhich  he  made  for  the  restoration  of  the  Jews  from  cap- 


Chap.  18.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  1S3 

tivity,  and  the  other  prophecies  which  were  given  him 
by  anjrcls. 

"  32  Q.     What  were  some  of  his  visions  and  prophe- 
cies ? 

»^.    Emblems  and  representations  of  the  four  monar- 
ihies  of  the  world,  and  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ;  and 
predictions  concerning  future  events  among  the  Jews, 
and  other  nations  of  the  earth ;  some  of  which  are  ex- 
»re5sed  so  plainly,  that  the  enemies  of  the  Bible  sup- 
pose them  to  be  written  after  those  events  came  to  pass. 
hap.  vii.  and  viii.  and  xi. 

33  Q.  What  remarkable  answer  did  Daniel  receive 
10  this  excellent  prayer  of  his  for  the  restoration  of  the 
Jews  ? 

A,  The  angel  Gabriel  was  ordered  to  fly  swiftly,  and 
to  inform  him  of  his  own  acceptance  with  God  ;  of  tlie 
commandment  of  the  kings  of  Persia  to  rebuild  the  holy 
city ;  of  the  time  of  the  coming,  and  the  death  of  the 
Messiah,  to  take  away  the  sins  of  men ;  and  of  the  se- 
cond destruction  of  Jerusalem.     Dan,  ix.  2() — 27. 

34  Q.  Wliat  other  eminent  prophecies  did  Daniel 
jcceive  by  his  converse  with  angels  } 

ji.  Besides  the  various  events  relating  to  this  world, 
he  had  some  predictions  concerning  the  Christian  church 
and  its  troubles,  and  the  period  of  tliem ;  concerning 
the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  everlastijig  life,  and  ever- 
lasting punishment  chap.  xii. 


CHAP.  XVIII. 

TJie  History  of  Esther, 

1  q.     Who  was  Esther  ? 

A.  A  beautiful  young  Jewish  virgin,  whose  ancestors 
were  carried  captive  by  the  kin^  of  Babylon,  in  the  days 
of  Jeconiah,  king  of  Judah.     hsther  ii.  5,  6. 

2  q.     Where  was  she  educated  ? 

A     She  was  brought  up  in  Shushan,  the  palace  of  the 
13 


134  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.         Chap.  18. 

king  of  Persia,  by  Mordecai  her  first  cousin,  for  her 
father  and  mother  were  dead.  ver.  7, 

3  Q.     To  what  honour  was  slie  advanced  ? 

*3.  King  Ahasuerus  took  her  into  his  royal  house,  and 
made  her  queen  in  the  room  of  his  former  queen,  Vashti. 
ver»  16,  17. 

JVo/e.  This  Ahasuerus  is  supposed  by  Dr.  Prideaux,  and 
-that  with  great  probability,  to  be  that  second  Artaxerxes,  king 
of  Persia,  who  was  called  Longimanus  ;  and  who,  perhaps,  be- 
ing influenced  by  Esther  and  Mordecai,  gave  a  decree  for  Ezra 
to  promote  the  building  of  the  temple  at  Jerusalem,  after  the 
captivity  in  Babylon.     See  Chap.  XIII.   Qu.  9,  and  13. 

4  Q.    What  was  the  occasion  of  Vashti's  disgrace  ? 
Jl,     When  the  king  had  made  a  most  magnificent 

feast  for  all  his  nobles  and  princes,  he  sent  for  Vashti  to 
shew  the  princes  her  beauty,  and  to  grace  the  festival, 
but  she  refused  to  come.     Esther  i.  10 — 12. 

5  Q.  What  service  did  Mordecai  do  for  the  king, 
which  laid  a  foundation  for  his  future  advancement  ? 

A.  He  gave  information  against  two  of  the  chamber- 
lains who  had  conspired  against  the  king,  upon  which 
they  were  tried  and  hanged.    Esther  ii.  21 — 23. 

6  Q.  Who  was  made-  the, king's  chief  favourite  a  lit^ 
tie  after  this  time  ? 

^.  Haman,  of  the  seed  of  Agad  the  Amalekite. 
Esther  ill.  1,  2. 

7  >  Q.     Wherein  did  Mordecai  offend  Haman  ? 

Ji.  He  refused  to  bow  before  him,  and  to  do  rever- 
^nce  to  him,  as  the  king's  servants  did  at  court,  ver.  2. 

8  ^.    How  did  Haman  attempt  to  revenge  himself? 
d.     By  persuading  the  king  to  send  orders  to  destroy 

all  the  Jews  that  were  jn  all  his  dominions,  ver.  6,  &c. 

9  Q.     What  did  Mordecai  do  on  this  occasion  ? 

A.  He  desired  Esther  the  queen  to  venture  into  the 
king's  presence,  though  she  were  not  called,  in  order  to 
petition  the  king  for  the  lives  of  her  people  the  Jews, 
Esther  iv. 

10  Q.    Did  Esther  comply  with  his  request  ? 

,^.  Though  she  knew  it  was  death  by  the  law  to  ven- 
ture jiiUo  the,  king's  presence,  unless  he  held  "out  his  gol^ 


Cltap.  18.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  \S$ 

i\en  sceptre  to  her ;  yd  having  first  fasted  and  prayed  to 
God  three  days,  and  appointed  the  Jews  in  Shushan  to 
fast  and  pray,  slie  ventured  to  approach  the  king.  Est- 
her  V.  1.         m 

1 1  Q.     What  success  did  queen  Esther  find  ? 

A.  The  king  heUI  out  his  goUlen  sceptre  to  her,  and 
promised  to  {irant  her  request,  even  to  the  half  of  his 
kingilom.     Esther  v.  1 — 3. 

1 2  ({.    What  was  Esther's  first  request  to  the  king  ? 

Ji.  That  tiie  king  and  Haman  would  come  to  a  ban- 
quet which  the  cjueen  had  prepared  for  them  ;  which  re- 
quest also  she  repeated  tiie  next  day.     Esther  v.  3^8. 

13  ^.     How  was  Haman  emploved  on  that  day? 

A.  He  rejoiced  at  the  invitation  tliat  Esther  gave 
him,  and  set  up  a  gallows  for  Mordecai  fifty  cubits  liigh, 
expecting  that  at  his  desire  the  king  would  order  Mor- 
decai to  be  hanged  thereon,  ver.  9 — 14. 

J  4  O.     How  did  the  king  pass  the  time  that  niglit  ? 

A.  He  could  not  sleep,  and  he  had  the  book  of  re- 
cords read  to  entertain  him,  wlierein  was  written  Mor- 
decai's  information  of  the  conspiracy  against  the  king. 
Esther  vi.  1,  2. 

15  O.     What  effect  had  this  on  the  king? 

.2.  When  he  inquired  and  found  that  Mordecai  had 
received  no  recompence  for  his  faithfulness,  he  ordered. 
Haman  to  array  him  in  royal  anparel,  to  set  him  on  tlie 
king's  own  horse,  and  to  do  the  nighest  honours  to  him  in 
a  public  procession  through  the  city,    ver,  6—11. 

16  Q.  In  what  remarkable  hour  did  Haman  receive 
tliis  order  from  the  king? 

J.  At  that  very  time  when  he  was  come  to  court  to 
-peak  to  the  king  to  hang  Mordecai  on  the  gallows  he 
had  set  up.  ver.  4,  5. 

ir  (I.  When  the  king  and  Haman  were  come  to  the 
banquet,  what  was  queen  Esther's  further  recjuest*^ 

A.  'I'hat  the  nation  of  the  Jews,  which  were  her  kin- 
dred, might  be  delivered  from  tiie  general  massacre  that 
Haman  liad  contrived  for  them.     Esther  vii.  1 — 7. 

1 8  Q.  What  change  of  alfaii-s  ensued  on  this  petition 
to  the  king? 


136  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  18. 

A.. !  The  king  coimnaiided  Hainan  to  be  hanged  on  the 
gallows  he  had  prepared  for  ?»iordecai ;  he  put  Mordecai 
into  Haman's  place  at  court ;  and  sent  orders  tlirougliout 
his  dominions  for  the  Jews  to  defend  them|^lves.  Esther 
vii.  9,  10,  and  viii.  1—17. 

19  Q.  Why  was  not  the  order  for  the  slaughter  of 
the  Jews  rather  reversed  B 

A»  Because  what  is  written  in  the  king*s  name,  and 
sealed  with  his  ring,  could  not  be  reversed,,  according  to 
the  laws  of  the  govei*nment,  ver.  8,  and  God  ordered  it 
t!ius  in  his  providence,  for  the  public  destruction  of 
their  enemies. 

20  Q.  How  did  the  Jews  defend  themselves  in  the 
day  designed  for  their  generif  slaughter  ? 

A*  They  slew  seventy-five  thousand  of  those  that 
rose  up  against  them,  and  the  ten  sons  of  Haman  among 
the  rest.    Esther  \x.  } — 16.  -^ 

21  Q.  What  memorial  of  this  great  deliverance  was 
preserved  amongst  the  Jews  ? 

»5.  .  All  the  Jews  agreed,  by  and  with  the  authority  of 
Esther  and  Mordecai,  to  keep  the  14th  and  loth  day  of 
the  month  Adar,  every  year,  as  a  day  of  thanksgiving 
for  this  salvation,  ver.  20 — 32. 

22  Q.     What  was  the  name  of  this  festival  ? 

A.  These  two  days  were  called  the  days  of  purim, 
from  pur,  which  signifies  a  lot  ^  because  Haman  had  cast 
lots  in  a  superstitious  manner,  to  find  out  what  month  or 
day  was  the  most  lucky  to  execute  his  bloody  device 
against  the  Jews.    Esther  ix.  26,  27,  and  iii.  7. 

23  Q,  How  does  this  history  appear  to  be  a  true  ac- 
count of  things,  since  there  is  not  the  least  liint  who  was 
the  writer  of  it,  nor  is  the  nam 6  of  God  in  it  ? 

Ji.     Because  it  is  delivered  down  to  us  among  the 
sacred  writings  by  the  Jews  themselves,  who  ivere  the 
keepers]of  the  oracles  of  God.   Ronu  iii.  2.  And  because 
this  feast  of  purim  is  observed  by  the  Jews  to  this  day». 
in  memory  of  this  deliverance. 

Tfie  End  of  the  Histories  of  the. 
Old  Testament, 


Chap.  19.       SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  137 


CHAP.  XIX. 

^1  Continuation  of  the  History  of  the  Government 
and  Church  of  the  Jeivs,  from  the  End  of  the  Old 
Testament t  to  the  Times  of  Christ. 

INTRODUCTION. 

T}{K  learned  Dr.  Prideaux  hath  written  two  large 
and  valuable  volumes,  which  he  calls  the  Connection  of 
the  History  of  the  Old  and  JVnv  Testament ;  wherein 
he  gives  us  an  account  of  all  the  most  credible  things 
that-  he  can  find  in  ancient  historians,  relating  to  the 
Jews  and  their  customs,  as  well  as  their  history,  during 
that  period  of  time  between  tlie  end  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment and  the  beginning  of  the  New :  he  intermingles  al- 
so a  large  collection  of  historical  matters  relating  to 
Persia,  tiabvlon,  Egypt,  Syria,  Asia  Minor,  Greece, 
Rome,  and  all  the  more  known  and  remarkable  nations 
of  the  earth,  wherein  the  great  aifairs  of  the  four  mon- 
ai'chies  of  the  world  were  transacted.  This  renders  his 
work  a  little  too  tedious  to  those  who  expected  nothing 
more  than  a  mere  continuation  of  the  Jewish  history  to 
the  times  of  our  Saviour. 

Now  it  is  only  a  very  brief  abstract  of  the  history  of 
the  Jews  which  1  endeavour  here  to  set  before  the  read- 
er, that  he  may  gain  a  little  acquaintance  with  the  affairs 
of  the  Jews,  or  the  church  of  God,  from  the  days  of  Ne- 
hcmiah,  when  Scripture  history  ends,  to  the  beginning  of 
the  Gos|K'l,  and  the  times  of  Christ.  A  greut  part  of  it 
must  be  taken  originally  from  Josephus,  die  Jewish  his- 
Torian,  and  from  the  books  of  Maccabees  Miiom  I  have 
consulted  upon  this  occasion ;  but  I  have  borrowed  much 
further  light  and  assistance  irom  Dr.  Prideaux  in  this 
matter,  whose  laborious  collection  from  heathen  writers,, 
and  his  judicious  determination  in  many  dubious  points, 
Ms  rendered  his  work  mors  complete  and  accurate,  and 

inc  more  easy. 
'13* 


138  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        CTiap.  19. 


Sect.  I.     Of  J\*eheiniah's  further  Reformation,  Syna- 
gogues, Targums,  Samaritans,  Froselytes,  Sfc. 

Note.  This  chapter  being  so  long,  the  questions  of  each  sec" 
tion  shall  be  numbered  apart. 

y    1  Q.    What  fiirther  refonnation  did  Nehemiah  make 
in  Israel? 

*3.  It  is  reported  by  the  Jews,  that  he  himself  togeth- 
er with  Ezra  the  scribe,  having  found  a  great  want  of 
the  knowledge  of  the  law  among  the  people,  did  about 
this  time  appoint  the  reading  of  the  law  in  the  several 
towns  and  cities ;  and  on  this  occasion,  it  is  supposed, 
that  synagogues  began  to  be  built  throughout  the  land,  or 
at  least  to  be  restored  and  renewed,  if  there  had  been 
any  built  before. 

2  Q.    "Where  were  the  synagogues  to  be  built  ? 

•5.  According  to  the  account  which  the  Jews  have 
given  us,  they  might  be  built  in  any  town  wheresoever 
they  could  find  ten  persons  of  full  age, and  of  sucii  con- 
dition and  easy  circumstances  of  life,  as  to  be  always  at 
leisure  to  attend  the  service. 

3  ^.  What  was  the  service  performed  in  the  syna- 
gogues ? 

Ji,  Prayer  and  praise  to  God,  reading  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures, and  preaching  and  expounding  tiiem. 

4  Q.  In  what  manner  were  the  Scriptures  expound- 
ed 5 

Ji,  The  Jews  and  their  posterity  having  lost  much 
of  their  own  language  in  Babylon,  did  not  so  well  under- 
stand the  Scriptures  in  the  Hebrew  tongue  ;  and  there- 
fore when  Elzra  read  the  law  to  the  people,  the  sense 
was  given  to  them  in  Chaldee,  by  many  Levites  who 
stood  by,  and  caused  them  to  understand  the  reading, 
^ehem.  viii.  4 — 8.  And  this  manner  of  reading  the 
Scriptures,  verse  by  verse,  and  translating  it  into  the 
Chaldee,  with  some  little  paraphrase  upon  it,  was  the 
manner  of  expounding  used  in  the  ancient  synagogues- 


Sect.  1.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY,  139 

JVb/e  1.  This  was  the  original  of  the  Jewish  targums^  which 
word  in  Chaldee  signifies  an  inttrpretation. — For  when  syna- 
gogues were  multiplied  among  the  Jews,  beyond  the  number  of 
able  interpreters,  it  became  necessary  that  such  translations  of 
the  Hebrew  into  Chaldee  should  be  made,  for  the  use  of  the 
teachers  and  fix-  n*  ople  ;  and  that  in  private  families  also,  as 
well  as  in  s\ 

,     There  wti'  i  ly  many  of  these  targums,  or  translations, 

or  expo<itioui>,  and  tUat  upon  different  parts  of  Scripture,  and  of 
different  sorts  ;  as  there  were  also  many  different  versions  of  the 
Scripture  into  Greek,  in  following  a?es,  for  the  same  purposes. 
Several  of  these  targums  are  lost,  through  length  of  time  ;  but 
the  chief  of  those  which  remain  to  this  day,  is  the  targum  or 
Chaldee  paraphrase  of  Onkelos,  upon  the  law  of  Moses  ;  and 
the  targum  of  JonatJian  Ben  Uzziel,  upon  the  prophets :  Both 
which,  some  learned  men  suppose  to  be  written  before  Christ  ; 
*^nd  are  by  the  Jews  valued  as  equal  to  the  Hebrew  text.  As 
for  the  Jerusalem  targum,  it  is  an  exposition  upon  the  law  ;  and 
others  are  on  different  parts  of  Scripture  ;  but  they  are  all  of 
less  esteem,  and  of  much  later  date.  But  neither  the  one  nor 
the  other  of  the  targums  were  much  known  to  the  primitive 
Christian  writers,  though  these  expositions  greatly  favour  the 
Christian  cause. 

Xott  2.  Among  the  Jews,  the  books  of  Joshua,  Judges,  Sain« 
uel,  and  Kings,  &c.  are  sometimes  called  the  former  prophets  ; 
and  the  books  of  Isaiidj,  Jeremiah,  Ezekiel,  and  the  trcelve  mi- 
nor prophets,  are  called  the  latter  prophets  ;  but  they  are  all 
called  the  prophets  :  Thus  the  law  and  the  prophets  make  up 
the  whole  Bible. 

Note  3.  That  there  are  in  Daniel  two  hundred  verses  of  the 
Bible  written  originally  in  Chaldee,  and  sixty-seven  in  Ezra, 
and  one  verse  in  Jeremiah,  namely,  ver.  11,  chap.  x.  And 
some  suppose,  for  this  reason,  there  is  no  targum  on  Daniel  and 
Ezra ;  neither  indeed  is  there  on  r^ehemiah,  though  that  book 
be  called  Hebrew.  , 

5  Q.  What  were  the  times  appointed  for  this  service 
in  the  synagogues  ? 

Jl.  IVo  days  in  the  week,  besides  the  sabbath  and 
tlieir  other  festivals.  The  law  bein^  divided  into  so 
many  sections  or  lessons  as  there  are  weeks  in  their  year, 
they  read  half  a  lesson  on  Monday  morninjg;,  and  tl>e'  oth- 
er half  on  Thursday  morni..g ;  and  this  same  whole 
lesson  they  read  on  the  sabbith,  both  morning;  and  after- 
noou.    Jicts  XV.  21.     We  are  told  tliat  reading  the  law 


r40  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  1^. 

was  a  custom  of  ancient  times  on  the  sabbath ;  and  when 
\  reading  of  the  prophets  was  added  to  that  of  the  law, 
they  observed  the  same  order  in  it. 

6  Q.     What  were  the  hours  of  their  daily  prayer  ? 
J.    At  the  time  of  morning  and  evening  sacrifice  and 

incense.  Luke  i.  9,  10.  ^-icts  iii.  1.  While  Zacliarias 
was  offering  incense^  the  people  were  praying  in  the 
court :  and  Peter  and  John  went  up  to  pray  in  the  tem- 
ple at  this  time.  To  these  hours  they  conformed  their 
prayers  in  the  temple,  and  in  their  synagogues,  and  usu- 
ally too  in  their  own  houses. 

JVo/e.  The  Jews  supposed  that  the  ofTering  up  of  the  daily 
sacrifices,  and  the  burning  of  incense  at  the  same  time,  v^ere 
designed  to  render  God  propitious  to  them,  and  malce  their 
prayers  acceptable  ;  and  for  this  reason  they  conformed  their 
times  of  prayer  to  these  hours.  So  David  prays,  Psalm  cxli. 
2,  Let  my  prayer  be  set  before  thee  as  incense^  Sec.  And  Her. 
viii.  4,  5, — And  the  smoke  of  the  incense  which  came  with  the 
prayer  of  the  saints^  ascended  up  before  God  out  of  the  angeVs 
hands. 

7  ^.  Had  tiiey  any  other  season  of  prayer  besides 
these  two  r 

Ji,  The  Jews  inform  us,  that  laesides  these  they  had 
a  prayer  at  the  beginning  of  night,  while  the  evening 
sacrifice  was  left  burning  on  the  altar.  Thus,  by  their 
three  pr:iyers  in  a  day,  they  imitated  the  ancients  ;  Da- 
vid prayed  morning,  noon,  and  evening.  Psa/m  Ivii.  17. 
Daniel  prayed  three  times  a  day.    Dan,  vi.  10. 

8  ^.  Who  ministered  in  the  service  of  the  syna- 
gogue ?  . . 

A.  The  priests  and  Levites  were  consecrated  to  the 
service  of  the  temple ;  but  for  the  service  of  the  syna- 
gogue, persons  of  any  tribe  were  appointed  by  some  el- 
ders of  that  town,  who  were  called  rulers  of  the  syna- 
gogue. So  our  Saviour,  being  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,- 
read  and  expounded  in  the  synagogue.  Luke  iv.  16.r  So 
after  reading  the  law  and  the  prophets,  Paul  and  'Silas 
were  engaged  in  preaching,  when  the  master  of  the  syn- 
agogue asked  them  for  a  word  of  exhortation  to  the 
people,    •icts  xiii.  15. 


Sect.1.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  141 

9  Q.  But  were  there  not  other  places  of  prayer  dis- 
tinct from  the  sniaj!;oe:ues  ? 

Ji.  Tlie  synagogues  were  sometimes  called  prayer- 
ho:iseSf  yet  tliore  were  prayer  houses  called  proseiichai, 
which  diftered  from  svna«j;(>gues  in  three  respects.  (1.) 
Synagogues  were  built  for  public  worship,  but  these 
places  of  praijer  for  any  one's  private  devotions  occasion- 
ally. (-2.)  Synagogues  were  covered  liouses,  but  the 
pla-es  of  prayer  were  courts  or  inclosures,  with  walls, 
and  open  to  tlie  sky.  (3.)  Synagogues  were  chiefly  in 
towns  or  cities,  the  prayer-houses  in  open  fields,  or  on 
mountains  :  such  are  mentioned  where  our  Saviour  spent 
a  whole  night  in  the  prarjer-hoiise,  as  it  should  be  trans- 
lated, Luke  vi.  12,  and  thither  pious  persons  resorted, 
and  prayer  was  wont  to  bejnade,    Jets  xvi.  13,  16. 

10  /^.  Is  there  any  certainty  that  there  were  any 
synagogues  before  this  time  ? 

.!?.  That  there  were  some  places  of  assembly  for 
divine  things  in  the  land  of  Israel,  before  the  destruction 
of  Jerusalem  and  the  temple  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  seems 
pretty  plain  from  Psalm  Ixxiv.  7,  8.  2'hey  have  burnt 
zip  all  the  synagogues  of  God  in  the  land.  Though 
they  mi^ht  be  but  very  few,  and  not  established  by  any 
autlioriiv,  nor  so  constanty  attended  as  afterward.  And 
yet  considering  that  the  Jews  fell  so  frequently  into  idol- 
atry before,  and  had  so  few  copies  of  i\\c  \a\vl  it  is  ques- 
tioned by  sonje  learned  men,  whether  tliere  were  any 
such  synagogues  at  all  in  the  land  of  Israel  till  after  the 
TJabylonish  captivity. 

11  Q.  What  eminent  and  remarkable  service  was 
tlone  by  these  public  places  of  wor>hip? 

A.  It  is  supposed  that  frequent  public  readings  of  the 
law  in  the  synagogues,  after  that  time,  were  a  special 
means  to  excite  and  preserve  in  the  people  of  the  Jews 
that  universal  a?jd  perpetual  hatred  of  idolatry,  to  which 
lliey  were  so  shamefully  prone  beloi  e  ;  and  it  did  also 
dilluse  and  maintain  the  knowledge  of  true  religion  and 
virtue  in  the  lan<I. 

12  ({.  Were  these  synagogues  built  any  where  be- 
sides in  Judea? 


1^  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.       Chap.  19. 

J.  When  the  Jews  were  afterwards  scattered  abroad 
into  various  nations,  they  built  places  of  worship  for 
themselves,  wheresoever  the  rulers  of  the  country  would 
permit  them. 

13  Q.  Of  what  advantage  were  these  synagogues  to 
the  heatliens,  or  afterward  to  C'r.ristianity  ? 

Jl.  It  was  by  means  of  tliese  synagogues  that  the 
heathens,  where  the  Jews  were  dispersed,  came  to  know 
the  true  God,  and  some  general  principles  of  virtue  and 
piety,  and  became  proselytes  of  the  gate;  and  by  these 
public  places  and  seasons  of  worship,  there  was  afterward 
an  opportunity  given  to  publish  the  gospel  of  Christ  by 
the  apostles,  both  among  the  Jews  and  Gentiles.  *.^cts 
xvii.  1,  2,  and  xix.  8, 

14  ^.     Wliat  is  meant  by  proselytes  of  the  gate  ? 

Ji.  Those  Gentiles  who  Venounced  idolatry,  and  re- 
ceived the  knowledge  and  the  worship  of  the  one  true 
God,  the  God  of  Israel ;  and  (as  some  affirm)  i\\ey  re- 
ceived also  the  rules  of  abstaining  from  blood  and  things 
strangled,  and  things  offered  to  idols,  which  were- forbid- 
den, Acts  XV.  to  the  Gentile  converts  to  Christianity. 

JVb/p..  These  rules,  with  a  few  others,  have  been  usually 
called  the  seven  precepts  of  JVoah^  which  the  Jews  make  as 
necessary  for  all  the  M^orld  to  ohej,  as  the  laAV  of  Moses  was  fo* 
Ihem  ;  and  doubtless  the  laws  given  to  Noah,  were  given  to  all 
the  world,  because  all  sprang  from  him. 

15  Q.    Why  v/ere  they  called  proselytes  of  the  gate  ? 
A.     The  word  proselyte  signifies  one  that  emijraces  a 

new  religion  ;  and  they  were  called  proselytes  of  the 
gate,  because  they  were  suffered  to  live  within  the  gates 
of  tlie  Jews,  according  to  the  expression  in  the  fourth 
commandment,  the  stranger  which  is  within  thy  gates. 
They  were  also  permitted  by  the  Jews  to  enter  the  out- 
ward court  of  the  temple,  called  the  court  of  the  Gen- 
tiles, when  that  was  built,  and  to  woi  ship  God  there ; 
but  they  were  excluded  from  the  gate  of  the  inner  court. 

JSTote.  These  are  they  who  in  the  book  of  the  *^cis  of  the 
Apostles  are  supposed  by  some  to  be  called  the  devout  persons^ 
and  those  who  feared  God^  kc  Ads  x.  17,  and  xiii.  50,  and 
xvii.  4,  and  xiii.  16.     Among  these  was  the  chief  harvest  of  the. 


«ect.  1.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  14S 

first  Christian  converts ;  though  there  might  be  many  person? 
too,  who  worshipped  the  one  true  God,  who  were  under  no 
prcseJytism  to  the  Jewish  church. 

16  O.     What  were  the  other  sort  of  proselytes  ? 

A.  rhey  were  such  Gentiles  as  consented  to  be  cir- 
cumcised, and  obliged  themselves  to  practise  all  the  lav/ 
of  Moses ;  Gal.  v.  3,  therefore  they  were  called  proselytes 
of  righteousness :  they  were  taken  into  tlie  Jewish  na- 
tion, and  united  with  them ;  and  were  also  called  prose- 
lytes of  the  temple,  because  they  were  admitted  hj  the 
Jews  into  the  inner  courts. 

JVo/c.  This  distinction  of  proselytes  has  been  supported  by 
the  common  opinion  for  near  two  hundred  years,  but  since  it  is 
«aid  to  have  no  better  foundation  than  the  Batylonish  talmud, 
it  is  doubted  by  some  learned  men  whether  there  were  any 
proselytes,  either  under  the  Old  or  New  Testament,  besides 
those  who  were  circumcised  and  complete. 

17  ^.  Having  heard  this  particular  account  of  syna- 
gogues and  proselytes,  proceed  now  to  say  what  was  the 
last  act  of  Nehemiah's  reformation  which  we  read  in 
Scripture  ? 

A.  That  he  turned  out  Manasseh,  the  son  or  grandson 
of  the  high  priest,  for  marrying  the  daughter  of  Sanballat 
the  Horonite.     J^Teh.  xiii.  28. 

18  ^.  What  did  Sanballat  do  with  his  son-in-law 
Manasseh  on  tiiis  occasion  ? 

w?.  He  procured  a  grant  from  Darius  Nothus,  who 
was  now  king  of  Persia,  to  build  on  Mount  Gerrizim, 
near  Samaria,  a  temple  like  tliat  at  Jerusalem,  and  to 
make  Manasseh,  his  son-in-law,  tlie  higli  priest  of  it. 

19  (^     What  was  the  consequence  of  this  practice? 

J}.  Samaria  thenceforth  became  the  refuge  of  the  re- 
bellious Jews,  wlio  were  called  to  account  for  breaking 
the  sabbath,  eating  unclean  n>eats,  or  were  found  guilty 
in  sinning  ajjainst  the  law  in  any  retnarkable  instances. 

2()  ((,  What  change  was  wrought  hereby  among  tlie 
Samaritans? 

^'i.  Their  first  original  was  from  some  eastern  hea- 
thens, who  were  planted  there  by  the  king  of  Assyria, 
after  the  captivity  of  Israel ;  but  when,  on  several  occa- 


144  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY,        Chap.lt). 

sions,  the  Jews  flocked  to  them,  it  made  a  considerable 
change  in  their  religion  :  for  though  before  they  worsliip- 
ped  the  God  of  Israel  in  conjunction  ^vith  other  gods,  2 
Kiii^s  xvii.  24 — 41,  they  now  cast  oft'  their  idolatry : 
and  since  a  temple  was  built  amongst  them,  in  which  the 
Jewish  service  was  performed,  and  the  law  of  Moses  read 
publicly,  they  came  much  nearer  to  the  worship  of  the 
true  God,  prescribed  in  Scripture. 

21  Q.  Did  not  the  Jews  love  them  the  better  on  tliis 
account  ? 

Ji,  No,  by  no  means;  but  they  hated  them  grevious- 
ly.  The  enmity  which  began  from  the  opposition  which 
the  Samaritans  made  to  the  Jews  in  their  rebuilding  Je- 
i-usalem  and  the  temple,  was  so  exceedingly  increased 
by  their  sheltering  all  the  rebellious  Jews,  that  the  Jews 
at  Jeinisalem  published  the  bitterest  curse  against  them, 
that  ever  was  denounced  against  any  people. 

22  Q.     What  miseries  were  contained  in  this  curse  ? 

%A,  The  Jews  forbid  all  communication  with  the  Sa- 
maritans ;  declared  all  the  fruits  of  their  land,  and  their 
cattle  unclean  ;  excluded  them  from  being  ever  received 
as  proselytes,  and  barred  them,  as  far  as  possible,  from 
having  any  portio/i  in  the  resurrection  of  the  dead  to 
eternal  life. 

23  Q.  What  appearance  of  this  great  enmity  do  we 
find  in  the  New  Testament  ? 

A.  This  seems  to  be  confirmed  by  the  words  of  Scrip- 
ture. John  iv.  9.  The  Jews  have  no  dealings  with  the 
Samaritans,  And  the  woman  of  Samaria  asked  our  Sa- 
viour, How  is  it  that  thou,  being  a  Jew,  asketh  drink  of 
me,  who  am  a  woman  of  Samaria  ?  And  when  the  Jews 
would  give  the  worst  name  they  could  to  our  Saviour, 
they  said,  'Vhou  art  a  Samaritan^  and  hast  a  devil. 
John  viii.  48, 


Sect.  II.     Of  the  Jewish  Jlffairs  under  the  Persian 
and  Grecian  Monarchies. 

1  Q.    How  were  the  Jewa  governed  after  the  death 
of  Nehemiah  ? 


■ct. 


SLRIPTCRE  HISTORY.  145 


J,  We  find  not  any  more  particular  governors  of  Ju- 
dea,  made  by  the  kings  or  eniperoi*8  of  Persia ;  but  Judea 
seems  to  be  made  subject  to  those  whom  the  Persian 
kings  made  governors  of  Syria;  and  that,  under  them, 
the  regulation  of  attairs  was  committed  to  the  high  priest ; 
so  tliat  he  had  all  the  sacred  authority,  and  the  civil 
power  also,  in  a  good  measure,  under  the  Syrian  governor. 

2  ({,  Did  tlie  high  priests  continue  their  regular  suc- 
cessions, as  tlie  eldest  of  Aaron's  family  ? 

.i.  This  succession  was  sometimes  interrupted  by 
tlie  emperors  of  the  world,  or  their  deputed  governors  of 
the  provinces,  appointing  another  person  to  take  that 
office. 

3  ^.  What  is  the  first  remarkable  instance  of  that 
kind  ? 

»i.  When  Johanan,  or  Jonathan,  the  son  of  Joiada, 
.\V/t.  xii.  11,  had  possessed  the  royal  priesthood  several 
years,  Bagoses,  the  governor  of  Syria,  appointed  his 
younger  brother,  Jeshua,  to  depose  him,  and  take  the 
priesthood ;  upon  which  there  was  a  tumult  in  the  inner 
court  of  the  temple,  and  Johanan  slew  Jeslma  there. 

4  Q.     How  did  Bagoses,  the  governor,  resent  this  ? 
Ji,     He  entered  into  the  inner  court  of  the  temple, 

though  tlie  Jews  forbid  him  as  being  unclean  ;  but  he  told 
them  lie  was  purer  than  the  dead  carcase  of  him  whom 
tliey  had  slain  there  ;  and  imposeil  on  tlie  priests  a  fine 
of  about  thirty-one  shillings,  for  every  lamb  tnat  was  offer- 
ed throughout  the  year. 

5  ({.  What  was  the  next  more  famous  difficulty  and 
deliverance  which  the  Je^s  met  with? 

►i.  They  were  most  remarkably  saved  from  the  op- 
pression and  resentment  of  Alexander  the  sreat,  who 
was  king  of  Macedonia  in  Greece,  when  they  liad  refus- 
ed to  assist  him  in  the  siege  of  Tyrus. 

6  Q.     In  what  manner  were  they  delivered  ? 

J.  When  Alexander  marched  against  Jerusalem,  de- 
signing.to  punish  the  Jews  on  this  account,  Jaddua  the 
high  priest,  the  son  of  Johanan,  bein^;  directed  by  a  ?iight 
vision,  met  the  concjuercr  in  his  priestly  robes,  with  the 
other  priests  attending  liim  in  pro|.er  habits,  and  all  th^ 
J4 


i46  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19. 

people  in  white  garments :  Alexander  being  struck  with 
this  sight,  saluted  the  high  priest  with  a  religious  venera- 
tion, embraced  him,  entered  Jerusalem  in  a  triendlv  man- 
ner, and  offered  sacrifice  to  God  in  the  temple,  ibr  his 
late  victories. 

7  Q.  How  came  Alexander  so  suddenly  to  change 
his  purpose,  and  behave  himself  with  so  much  mildness  r 

A.  Alexander  declared,  that  he  himself^  in  Macedo- 
nia, had  seen  this  very  same  person,  thus  habited,  in  a 
night  vision,  encouraging  him  to  pursue  his  expedition 
against  the  Persians,  and  promising  him  success. 

8  ^.  What  further  favours  did  Alexander  shew  the 
Jews? 

^.  When  Jaddua,  the  high  priest,  had  shewn  him  the 
prophecies  of  Daniel,  particularly  chap,  viii.  ver.  21, 
where  the  he-goat  is  interpreted  to  be  the  king  of  Grecia, 
who  should  conquer  the  Medes  and  Persians ;  and  chap, 
xi.  S,  he  bid  the  Jews  ask  what  they  had  to  desire  of 
him :  and,  according  to  their  request,  he  granted  them 
the  liberty  of  their  own  laws  and  religion,  and  a  freedom 
from  tribute  or  taxes  every  seventh  year,  because  then 
they  neither  sowed  nor  reaped. 

9  Q.  Did  Alexander  succeed  in  his  following  wars, 
and  his  attempts  against  the  Persian  empire,  according 
to  the  Jewish  propliecy  ? 

^,  When  he  departed  out  of  Judea  and  Palestine,  he 
marched  into  Egypt  which  speedily  submitted  to  him  : 
there  he  built  the  city  Alexandria,  and  peopled  it  with 
.several  nations,  among  whom  were  many  Jews,  to  whom 
he  gave  the  same  privileges  as  to  his  own  Macedonians. 
The  next  spring  he  hastened  to  find  out  Darius  Codo- 
mannus,  king  of  Persia,  whom  he  had  routed  once  before, 
and  he  now  vanquished  him  in  a  final  decisive  battle 
near  Arbela,  and  became  master  of  the  Persian  empire. 

10  Q.     How  long  did  lie  reign  after  this  battle  ? 

A.  He  went  on  and  conquered  India;  but  in  five 
years  time  he  fell  into  such  riot  and  drunkenness,  that 
j)ut  an  end  to  his  life ;  though  others  say  he  was  poisoned. 

11  Q.  What  became  of  the  Jews  after  Alexandei-*s 
lleath.? 


Sect.  3.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  14r 

•fl.  A  little  after  the  death  of  Alexander,  four  of  his 
generals  divided  his  empire,  who  were  the  four  horns  of 
the  he-goat,  inentione(i  by  the  prophet  Daniel,  which 
grew  up,  after  breaking  the  first  horn.  Daniel  viii.  22, 
and  xi.  4.  And  the  Jews  fell  under  tlie  dominion  of 
Ptolemy,  afterwanl  surnamed  Soter,  who  liad  Egypt, 
Arabia,  Ctelo-Syria,  and  Palestine,  or  the  land  of  Israel, 
for  his  share. 

Here  it  may  be  observed,  that  as  Ptolemy  had  Egypt,  Pales- 
tine, &c.  for  his  jrhare,  so  Cassander  had  Macedonia  and  Greece  ; 
Lysimachus  had  Thrace  and  Bithynia,  and  some  other  provin- 
ces thereabout :  Seleucus  had  Syria,  and  the  northern  and  east- 
ern provinces  in  Asia. — Thus  was  the  empire  of  Alexander  the  ■ 
great  divided  among  his  generals. 


Sect.  III.  Of  the  Jewish  Jiffairs  under  Ptolemy 
Soter,  Ptolemy  Phihdelphus,  and  Ptolemy  Philor 
pater^  Kings  of  Egypt.  Of  the  Great  Synagogue, 
the  Jewish  Traditions,  their  Mishnah  and  Talmud  ; 
and  of  the  Septuagint  Translation  of  the  Bible  into 
Greek. 

1  Q.  IIow<lid  Ptolemy  king  of  Egypt  deal  with  the 
Jews  ? 

Ji.  Ptolemy  designing  to  make  Alexandria,  which 
was  built  by  Alexander,  in  Egypt,  his  capital  city,  he 
persuaded  a  multitude  of  Jews  to  settle  there,  granting 
them  the  same  privileges  as  Alexander  had  done  before 
him  ;  whence  it  came  to  pass  that  Alexandria  had  a  great- 
er number  of  Jews  still  flocking  to  it. 

2  ((.  What  remarkable  story  is  related  of  one  Mo- 
BoUam  a  Jew,  who  followed  Ptolemy  about  tliis  time  ? 

»•?.  When  a  certain  soothsayer,  or  cunning-man,  ad- 
vised a  Jewish  troop  of  horse,  in  which  MosoTlam  rode, 
to  stand  still  upon  tlie  sight  of  a  bird  in  the  way,  and 
ujld  them  they  should  either  go  backward  or  forward,  as 
tliat  bird  took  its  Oight ;  the  Jew,  being  a  great  archer, 
immediately  shot  the  bird  with  an  arrow,  and  said, "How 
**  could  that  poor  wretched  bird  foreshew  us  our  fortune. 


148  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19 

"which  knew  nothing  of  its  own  r"   Hereby  lie  designed 
to  expose  and  condemn  the  superstition  of  the  heathens, 

3  Q.  How  did  it  fare  with  tlrc  Jews  that  were  dis- 
persed abfiUt  Babylon  ? 

J}»  Selcucus,  another  of  Alexander's  generals,  who 
ruled  in  the  greaterand  <he  lesser  Asia, built  nmny  cities  ; 
sixteen  of  which  he  called  Antioch,  from  Antiochus  liis 
father !  nine  were  called  Seleucia  from  his  own  name  ; 
six  Laodicea,  from  the  name  Laodice,  his  mother ;  others 
Apamea  and  Stratonice,  from  his  wives!  in  all  which  he 
planted  Jews,  and  gave  them  equal  privileges  with  the 
Greeks  or  Macedonians,  especially  at  Antioch  in  Syria, 
where  they  settled  in  great  numbers. 

4  Q.  What  considerable  person  rose  among  the  Jews 
at  Jerusalem  about  this  time? 

^.  Simon  the  just,  who  is  Spoken  of  so  honourably 
in  the  fiftieth  chapter  of  Ecclesiastieus.  He  was  a  high 
priest  of  tlie  Jews  about  this  time,  who  merited  the  sur- 
name of  the  jubt,  by  his  great  holiness  toward  God,  and 
justice  toward  men ;  and  he  was  the  last  of  the  men  of 
the  great  synagogue. 

5  Q.  ^Vhat  was  this  great  synagogue,  and  who  were 
the  men  that  composed  it  ? 

^.  A  hundred  and  twenty  elders,  who,  in  a  continued 
succession,  after  the  return  of  the  Jeus  from  Babylon, 
laboured  in  restoring  the  Jewish  church  and  state ;  and 
made  it  their  chief  care  to  publish  tlie  Scriptures  to  the 
people  with  great  accuracy. 

6  Q.     What  part  of  this  work  is  attributed  to  Simon  ? 

Jl.  It  i&  supposed  by  some  learned  men,  that  he  ad- 
ded the  two  books  of  Chronicles,  Ezra,  Nehemiah,  Est- 
'uer,  and  the  prophecy  of  Malachi,  to  the  canon  of  Scrip- 
ture ;  wliich  books  were  scarce  supposed  to  be  inserted 
i\y  Ezia,  because  several  of  them  are  thought  to  be  writ- 
len  by  Ezra  himself;  and  the  books  of  Nehemiah  and 
Malachi  were  most  likely  written  after  Ezra's  time. 

7  Q.  Did  the  Jews  after  this  time,  when  the  Old 
Testament  was  completed,  religiously  confine  themselves 
to  the  direction  of  Scripture  ? 

J.     After  this  time  their  traditions  began  to  prevail ; 


Seel.  3.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  149 

that  is,  the  sajings  of  the  ancients  delivered  down  by 
tradition. 

.Vo/e.  Though  traditions  prevailed  about  this  time,  yet  the 
JSfishnah^  which  is  their  secondary  law,  or  a  collection  of  tra- 
rfi/ton*,  and  M'hich  they  pretend  to  be  dictated  from  God  to 
MoRe?,  wa*  not  compiled  and  put  together  till  above  a  hundred 
year?  after  the  time  of  Christ,  by  Rabbi  Judah  Hakkadafih : 
and  this  Mishnah,  together  with  their  comments  on  these  things, 
are  called  ihe  Talmud. 

yote.  There  are  two  talmnds  :  that  of  Jerusalem,  which  was 
complete  about  three  hundred  years  after  Christ ;  and  that  of 
Babylon,  about  five  hundred  years :  but  each  of  them  have  the 
same  Mishnali  though  with  different  comments,  which  comment? 
are  called  the  Gemara. 

8  ^.  Who  were  the  chief  teachers  of  this  secondary 
law  or  traditions  ? 

Jl,  Antij»onus  of  Socho  was  the  first  of  them,  who 
being  an  eminent  scribe  in  the  law  of  God,  was  president 
of  the  Sanhedrim,  or  Senate  of  the  elders  at  Jerusalem, 
great  master  of  the  Jewish  school,  and  a  teacher  of 
ri^iiteousness  to  tlie  people,  and  of  these  traditions. 
Arterward  all  the  teachers  or  doctors  of  tlie  Jewish  law 
were  in  the  New  Testament  sometimes  called  scribes, 
sometimes  lawyers  or  those  who  sat  in  ^Voses's  seat. 

9  ^.     \Vliat  special  honour  was  paid  to  these  men  ? 

A.  Besides  other  respects  shewed  them  by  tlie  peo- 
ple, who  called  them  rabbi,  and  hixidy  esteemed  them, 
it  was  out  of  these  doctors,  that  the  great  Sanhedrim,  or 
Council  of  seventy-two,  was  chosen  to  govern  the  whole 
n  ition  ;  and  the  lesser  council  of  twenty-three,  which 
was  in  e\cry  city  of  Judea. 

J^ote.  These  were  called  rulers^  or  elders,,  or  cotLnseUors  ; 
BHch  were  Nico<lemup,  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  and  (Janiah'el. 

Nott  liere  also,  that  in  the  Jewish  Tahuudical  books,  or  their 
fabulous  writings,  on  which  we  cannot  much  depend,  we  are 
told,  that  about  this  time  one  Sadoc  mistook  tlie  doctrine  of 
Antigonus  of  Socho,  his  master,  who  taught,  "  that  we  ought 
*"  not  to  serve  God  in  a  servile  manner,  merely  with  respect  to 
•'  the  reward  ;"  and  inferred  from  hence,  that  there  were  no  re- 
wards after  this  life,  and  begun  the  sect  of  the  Sadducees: 
though  it  may  be  justly  doubted,  whether  this,  and  other  dan-- 
gerous  doctrines  of  this  sect,  arose  so  early  among  the  Jew*.  - 
14^. 


150  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19. 

10  Q.  Since  the  Jews  were  dispersed  into  so  many 
countries,  did  they  not  acquaint  the  Gentiles  with  their 
religion  ? 

Ji.  Yes  ;  for  Ptolemy  Soter  set  up  a  college  of  learn- 
ed men  at  Alexandria  in  Egypt,  and  begun  a  library 
therg;  which  Ptolemy  Philadelphus,  his  youngest  ^on 
and  successor,  improved  to  one  hundred  thousand  vol- 
umes :  this  prince  is  reported  to  have  commanded  the 
Hebrew  law  to  be  translated  into  Greek,  to  add  to  this 
library  of  his,  that  the  Gentiles  might  read  it  v  and  ac- 
cordingly it  was  done. 

J^ote.  This  college  of  learned  men  was  encouraged,  and  the 
library  increased  by  several  Ptolemies  successively,  till  it  arose 
to  seven  hundred  thousand  books.  Both  these  things  made 
Alexandria  a  famous  place  of  residence  and  resort  for  learned 
men  for  several  ages.  It  happened  that  the  larger  half  of  this 
library  was  bunit  by  Julius  Caesar  in  his  Alexandrian  war  ;  the 
other  part  was  by  continual  recruits,  enlarged  to  a  vaster  num- 
ber than  the  whole  library  before  ;  but  it  was  finally  burnt  and 
destroyed  by  the  Saracens,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  642. 

11  ^.  In  what  manner  is  this  translation  reported  to 
be  made  ? 

A.  Aristeas,  the  most  ancient  vrriter  on  this  subject^ 
and  Josephus  the  historian,  who  follows  hini,  acquaint  us, 
that  after  this  Ptolemy  had  gained  the  favour  of  the 
Jews,  by  paying  the  ransom  of  a  hundred  thousand  of 
their  countrymen,  who  were  enslaved  in  Egypt,  he  pro- 
cured six  elders  out  of  every  tribe  of  Israel,  (which  were 
in  all  seventy-two)  to  come  to  his  court;  and  after  a 
trial  of  their  wisdom,  by  some  particular  question  being 
put  to  each  of  them,  he  appointed  them  to  translate  the 
law  of  Moses,  by  conferring  together  about  the  sense  of 
it,  in  the  isle  of  Pharos :  which  being  afterwards  read  to 
him,  and  approved  by  him,  he  gave  them  a  liberal  reward. 
^C^pon  this  account  this  translation  is  called  the  Septua- 
gifit,  that  is,  the  translation  of  the  seventy,  or  seventy- 
two  elders. 

12  Q.  But  did  not  this  story,  in  following  times  grow 
much  more  fabulous  T 

»^.    Philo  the  Jew,  w!io  lived  about  our  Saviour's  time> 


Sect  3.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  151 

reports,  that  each  of  these  seventy-two  elders  were  put 
into  a  distinct  cell,  and  were  required  to  translate  tiie 
whole  Bible  apart ;  and  that  tiiey  pertbrnied  it  so  exactly 
alike,  word  tor  word,  that  it  was  appro\  ed  as  miraculous 
and  divine:  an<l  even  several  fathers  of  the  Christian 
church,  being  too  credulous  and  fond  of  miracles,  have 
received  this  story,  and  conveyed  it  down  m  their  writ- 
ings. 

13  ^.    How  doth  it  appear  to  be  a  fable  ? 

.^.  The  great  imperfection  of  this  t^nslation,  discov- 
ers that  it  was  no  divine  woik,  nor  performed  by  miracle: 
besides,  the  several  contradictions,  and  the  uncertainties 
that  are  mingled  up  and  down  with  this  story,  do  utterly 
overthrow  the  credit  of  it. 

14  Q.  Upon  the  whole  view  of  tilings,  what  is  the 
best  account  of  this  translation  ? 

•^^.  In  the  reign  of  Ptolemy  Philadelphus  there  was 
such  a  version  made  of  the  five  books  of  Moses,  by  the 
Jews  of  Alexandria,  into  the  Greek  language,  probably  for 
their  own  use,  and  for  the  use  of  their  countrymen  ;  for 
the  Jews  in  their  dispersions  had  used  themselves  to  the 
Greek  tongue,  the  conquests  of  Alexander  and  his  Gre- 
cian amiy  having  spread  their  language  through  the 
world  ;  and  when  Ptolemy  Philadelplius  had  erected 
such  a  noble  library,  he  was  desirous  to  have  tlils  book 
deposited  tliere.  AN  iiether  his  request  or  command  gave 
any  occasion  to  this  translation,  is  hard  to  determine. 

15  (^.  Were  not  the  other  sacred  writinj^s  translated 
into  Greek  also,  as  well  as  the  five  books  of  Moses  ? 

•^.  When  the  reading  of  the  prophets  a»  well  as  the 
/rrVcame  into  use  in  the  synagogues,  many  yeafs  after- 
wards, in  the  time  of  Antiochus  F'piplianes,  this  occa» 
sioned  a  Greek  translation  of  ilie  prophets  to  be  made  ; 
and  so  the  whole  Old  Testament  was  complete,  which 
we  now  call  thp  Septuag^int. 

16  Q,  Did  the  Jews  jjenerally  come  to  use  this  Greek 
translation  of  the  Bible  ? 

.^.  In  and  after  the  time  of  Ezra,  the  Scriptures 
were  read  to  the  Jews  in  H»'brew,  and  intcr])ret('d  into 
the  Chaldee  language,  which  they  had  learnt  in  Babylon, 


152  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19. 

and  was  become  most  familiar  to  them.  But  at  Alexan- 
dria, after  the  making  of  this  Greek  version,  it  was  af- 
terwards interpreted  to  them  in  Greek,  which  was  after- 
wards done  also  in  all  other  Grecian  cities,  whither  the 
Jews  were  dispersed.  And  from  hence  those  Jews  were 
called  Hellenists  or  Grecizing  Jews,  because  they  used 
the  Greek  language  in  their  synagogues ;  and  by  that 
name  they  were  distinguished  from  the  Hebrew  Jews, 
who  used  only  the  Hebrew  and  Chaldee  languages  in 
tlieir  synagogue^  And  this  distinction  we  find  made 
between  them,  ^fcts  vi.  1.  For  the  word  which  we  there 
translate  Grecians,  is  in  the  original  'Exxuvio-m,  that  is, 
Hellenists.     So  Dr.  Prideaux. 

17  Q.  But  did  not  the  evangelists  and  the  apostles, 
who  were  the  writers  of  the  New  Testament,  pay  great 
honour  to  this  Greek  translation  ? 

Jl.  Yes ;  they  cited  many  scriptures  of  the  Old  Tes- 
tament, according  to  this  translation,  because  it  was  the 
best  Greek  translation  they  had  ;  and  it  was  by  this  time 
well  known  amongst  the  Jews  in  Judea,  as  well  as  those 
who  were  scattered  round  the  nations. 

18  Q.  Did  the  Jews  in  Judea  continue  in  peace  un- 
der the  government  of  the  kings  of  Egypt? 

*3.  The  successors  of  the  four  generals  of  Alexander 
the  great,  who  divided  the  world  amongst  them,  and  par- 
ticularly the  kings  of  Egypt  and  Sjria,  being  frequently 
engaged  in  wars  for  enlarging  their  kingdoms,  the  Jews 
were  reduced  to  very  great  difficulties,  and  sometimes 
were  at  a  loss  what  side  to  choose ;  they  were  in  danger 
on  both  sides,  and  were  sometimes  distressed  and  miser- 
ably grinded  between  the  one  and  the  other. 

19  Q.  Did  they  maintain  the  purity  of  their  temple 
and  worship? 

Jl.  They  were  often  exposed  to  grievous  difficulties 
on  this  account  When  Ptolemy  Philopater,  of  Egypt, 
reigned  over  those  provinces,  he  would  ofter  up  sacrifices 
to  the  God  of  Israel  for  his  success  against  Antiochus  the 
great,  the  successor  of  Seleucus,  king  of  Syria;  and  he 
was  not  content  to  stay  in  the  outer  court,  but  he  would 
have  pressed  into  the  sanctuary,  and  even  the  holy  o( 
holies. 


Sect.  3.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  135 

20  Q.     How  was  he  prevented  from  entering  ? 

Ji,  The  priests  and  the  Levites,  and  all  the  people 
lifted  up  their  hands  to  God  in  prayer,  and  when  the 
king  Ijad  passed  the  inner  court,  and  was  entering  into 
the  temple,  he  was  smitten  from  God,  with  such  terror 
and  confusion  of  mind,  that  he  was  carried  out  of  the 
place  half  dead. 

£1  Q.     But  did  not  Ptolemy  resent  this  afterwards? 

Jl.  He  purposed  to  be  reven^jed  on  all  the  Jewish 
nation  ;  wiion  he  came  to  Alexandria  he  ordered  them  to 
sacrilice  to  his  gods ;  and  if  they  refused,  he  took  away 
their  privileges,  which  they  had  enjoyed  in  Kgypt  from 
the  tin\e  of  Alexander  the  great;  he  ordered  them  to  be 
enrolled  among  the  common  people  of  Kgypt,  and  to  have 
the  mark  of  an  ivy-leaf,  the  badge  of  his  god  Bacchus, 
impressed  upon  them  by  a  hot  iron  ;  anil  those  who  re- 
fused it,  should  be  made  slaves,  or  put  to  death. 

22  Q.  What  did  the  Jews  of  Alexandria  do  on  this 
occasion  } 

Ji.  A  few  of  them  foi-sook  tiieir  God  to  gain  the  fa- 
vour of  their  king :  but  many  thousands  stood  firm  to 
their  religion  :  and  though  several  of  them  were  enroll- 
ed and  branded  with  the  ivy-leaf  against  their  will,  yet 
they  shewed  a  great  abhorrence  of  all  their  countrymen 
that  sacrificed  to  the  gods  of  the  king. 

23  Q.  How  did  Ptolemy  bear  with  tliis  conduct  of 
theirs  ? 

A.  He  resolveil  to  destroy  the  whole  nation  of  the 
Jews ;  and  therefore,  first  he  ordered  all  that  lived  any 
whore  in  Kgypt,  to  be  brought  in  chains  to  Alexandria 
to  be  slain  by  his  elephants. 

24  (I.  ^And  were  they  destroyed  according  to  the 
king's  anpointment  ? 

Ji.  Tlie  elephants  being  made  drunk  with  wine  and 
frankincense,  and  let  loose  upon  them,  instead  of  falling 
up(m  the  Jews,  they  turned  all  their  rage  upon  the  spec- 
tators, ami  destroyed  great  numbers  oftheu). 

25  Q.     What  influence  had  this  up(m  the  king? 

.3.  He  durst  no  longer  persecute  his  rage  against 
them ;  but  fearing  the  vengeance  of  the  God  of  Israel 


154  SCRIPTURE   mSTORY.       Chap.  19. 

upon  himself,  he  revoked  his  cruel  decrees,  restored 
their  privileges,  and  gave  leave  to  put  to  death  the  Jews 
that  had  abandoned  their  religion  and  worshipped  idols. 

JVote.  This  story  is  found  in  that  which  is  called  the  third 
Book  of  Maccabees,  written  by  some  ancient  Jew  under  that 
title,  because  it  gives  an  account  of  the  persecution  and  delive- 
rance of  the  Jews,  as  the  first  and  second  book  of  Maccabees  do. 
Though  this  was  transacted  long  before  the  name  of  Maccabees 
arose  ;  and  therefore  it  ought  rather  to  have  been  called  the 
Jirst  book  than  the  third.  It  is  not  found  among  our  apocry- 
phal books,  because  it  was  never  inserted  in  the  vulgar  Latin 
version  of  the  Bible,  but  it  is  found  in  many  of  the  manuscripts 
of  the  Greek  Septuagint,  and  particularly  that  of  the  Alexandri- 
an manuscript  in  the  king's  library. 


Sect.  IV.  Of  the  Jewish  Affairs  under  Sntiochus^ 
the  great,  Seleiicus,  and  Jintiochus  Mpiphanes, 
JCings   of  Syria, 

1  ^.  Did  the  Jews  afterwards  at  Jerusalem  continue 
under  the  government  of  the  Ptolemies  who  were  kings 
of  Egypt  ? 

*i.  When  Ptolemy  Philopater  was  dead,  and  Ptole- 
my Epiphanes  came  to  the  crown,  the  Jews  having  been 
greatly  persecuted  by  the  Ptolemies,  submitted  them- 
selves to  Antiochus  the  great,  king  of  Syria  ;  and  when 
he  came  to  Jerusalem  in  a  solemn  procession,  they  went 
to  meet  him,  and  received  him  gladly. 

2  Q.     How  did  Antiochus  reward  them  ? 

J,  He  granted  them  many  privileges,  as  he  had  done 
to  their  countrymen,  who  were  settled  in  Babylonia  and 
Mesopotamia,  having  always  found  the  men  of  that  na- 
tion faithful  to  him. 

3  Q.  What  confidence  did  he  put  in  them  on  this 
account  ? 

.5.  He  transported  several  of  them  from  Babylon  to 
the  lesser  Asia,  to  keep  his  forts  and  garrisons,  and  gave 
them  good  settlements  there ;  whence  sprang  a  great 
part  of  the  Jews  that  were  found  in  that  country,  in  the 
apostles*  times. 


Sect.  4.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  155 

4  ^.  What  remarkable  events  fell  out  in  the  days  of 
Seleucus  Phllopater,  son  and  successor  to  Antiochus  the 
great? 

J.  Simon,  a  Benjamite,  being  made  ffovernor  of  the 
temple,  some  difference  arose  between  nim  and  Onias 
the  third,  the  high  priest,  an  excellent  man,  concerning 
some  disorders  in  tne  city ;  and  when  Simon  could  not 
obtain  his  will,  he  informed  Appollonius,  the  governor  of 
the  province  under  Seleucus,  tliat  great  treasures  were 
hid  m  the  temple ;  whereupon  Heliodorus  the  treasurer, 
was  sent  to  seize  them. 

5  ^.  How  did  the  hand  of  God  appear  against  He- 
liodorus in  his  attempt  to  enter  the  temple  ? 

Jl,  The  priests  and  tlie  people  made  »reat  outcries 
and  supplications  to  God  ;  upon  which  Heliodorus  is  re- 
ported to  have  seen  a  vision  of  a  horse,  with  a  terrible 
rider  upon  him,  who  smote  Heliodorus  with  his  forefeet; 
and  two  youn^  men  appeared  who  scourged  him  sorely : 
upon  which  Heliodorus  fell  suddenly  to  the  ground  in 
darkness  and  confusion  ;  but  being  restored  by  the  pray- 
ers of  Onias,  he  acknowledged  the  power  ot  God,  and 
departed  from  the  city. 

Read  this  story  more  at  large,  2  Maccabees^  chap.  iii.  I  con- 
fess it  seems  to  have  something  a  little  fabulous  in  the  air  of  it, 
as  also  other  stories  in  that  book. 

6  Q.  How  came  so  good  a  man  as  Onias  to  be  turned 
out  of  the  priesthood  .'' 

A.  When  Antiochus  Epiphanes  succeeded  his  brother 
Seleucus  in  the  kingdom  of  Syria,  Jason  bribed  him  with 
a  lar^e  sum  of  money  to  turn  out  his  own  brother  Onias, 
banish  him  to  Antioch,  and  confer  the  priesthood  on 
himself;  not  that  he  affected  it  as  it  was  a  religious  of- 
fice, but  as  it  included  the  power  of  civil  government. 
2  Mace.  iv.  7. 

7  ({.  Wliat  did  this  wicked  Jason  do  when  he  was 
high  priest  ? 

J.  He  erected  a  place  of  exercise  at  Jerusalem,  for 
training  up  youth  according  to  the  fashion  of  the  Greeks, 
And  made  as  many  of  them  as  he  could  forsake  tlie  re» 


156  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19. 

ligious  customs  and  usages  of  their  forefathers,  and  con- 
form themselves  in  many  things  to  the  customs  and 
ceremonies  of  the  heathens,  ver.  9,  &c. 

8  Q.     What  became  of  this  Jason  ? 

J,  A  few  years  after,  when  he  employed  Menelaus 
his  brother  to  pay  his  tribute  at  the  Synan  court,  he  was 
supplanted  by  him  ;  for  Menelaus  by  bribery  obtained 
the  priesthood,  and  put  Jason  to  tiisht. 

9  Q.  Did  Menelaus  behave  himself  better  in  his 
office  ? 

•B.  He  was  worse  than  Jason ;  he  stole  some  of  the 
vessels  of  gold  out  of  the  temple,  he  went  to  Antioch, 
where  he  was  reproved  by  Onias,  who  was  yet  living, 
for  his  wickedness,  and  out  of  revenge  procured  Onias 
to  be  slain. 

10  Q.  What  was  done  at  Jerusalem  in  the  mean 
time  ? 

^,  Lysimachus  being  left  as  a  deputy  by  Menelaus, 
practised  many  sacrileges  on  the  vessels  of  the  temple, 
Vt'hich  occasioned  a  great  insuiTection  in  the  city,  where- 
in multitudes  on  the  part  of  Lysimachus  were  wounded 
and  slain,  and  the  church-robber  himself  was  killed. 

11  Q.     Did  Jason  ever  return  again  to  Jerusalem? 
Ji.     When  there  was  a  false  report  of  the  death  of 

Antiochus,  Jason  with  a  thousand  men  assaulted  the  ci- 
ty, and  slew  many  citizens,  but  was  at  last  put  to  flight ; 
and  being  driven  from  country  to  country,  and  from  city 
to  city,  he  perished  in  a  strange  land,  without  tlie  honour 
of  a  burial.     2  Mace.  v.  5 — 10. 

12  Q.  Did  Antiochus  the  king  suffer  these  tilings  to 
pass  un resented? 

*S.  Upon  the  report  of  such  a  tumult  in  Jerusalem, 
he  imagined  that  Judea  had  revolted,  and  he  came  upon 
the  city,  and  ordered  his  men  of  war  m)t  to  spaie  young 
or  old,  and  there  were  fourscore  thousand  destroyed  in 
the  space  of  three  days. 

13  Q.  What  profaneness  was  Antiochus  guilty  of  in 
the  temple  ? 

A.  Being  conducted  by  Menelaus  into  the  temple,  he 
took  away  the  remaining  holy  vessels,  the  altar  of  in- 


^ccr.4.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  157 

onse,  the  goldfn  table  and  the  candlestick  ;  he  tore  off 
ilic  golden  ornaments  of  die  temple,  and  robbed  it  of  the 
■lidden  treasures,  he  offered  a  large  sow  (that  unclean 
and  Ibrbidden  beast)  on  the  altar  of  burnt-offeiing,  and 
left  Jerusalem  overwhelmed  in  blood  and  mourning. 

14  (^.    Did  he  pursue  this  mischief  and  madness  anv 
■  "Dger? 

tf.  Two  years  after  he  sent  Apollonius,  his  collector 
<it  tribute,  with  a  thousand  men,  Avho  fell  suddenly  on 
:!iL'  citv  on  the  sabbath,  while  they  were  at  worship,  and 
-.low  tlie  citizens  and  the  priests  ;  made  the  sacrifices 
cease,  led  the  women  and  cliildren  captive,  pulled  do\^Ti 
the  houses  and  the  walls,  built  a  castle  or  fortress  on  a 
high  hill  in  the  city  of  David  over  ajrainst  tlie  temple,  to 
overlook  and  annoy  them,  and  placed  a  garrison  therein, 
and  laid  up  the  spoils  of  the  city  there. 

15  ((.     Wliat  further  instances  of  rage  did  Antiochus 
icw  against  the  Jewish  religion  ? 

A.     He  issuetl  out  an  onler,  that  all  liis  dominions 

<-l»ould  be  of  one  religion,  chiefly  designing  to  distress 

Tlie  Jews:   he  forbid  their  children  to  be  circumcised, 

M  1  forbid  all  burnt-offerings  and  sacrifices  in  the  temple 

)  the  Go<l  of  Israel  :  he  called  it  the  temple  of  Jupiter 

Olympus,  set  up  his  image  on  the  altar,  anil  sacrificed  to 

it ;    he  commanded  the  |)eople  to  profime  the  sabbath, 

he  set  up  altars  and  groves,  and  chapels  of  idols  through- 

'•  »t  the   cities,  and  required  them   to   offer  the  flesh  of 

\  ine   and  other  unclean  beasts,  and  then  to  eat   it ; 

..:id  he  destroyed  t!ie  books  of  the  law  wheresoever  they 

were  found. 

.Vote.  This  image  of  Jupiter,  f^ot  up  on  the  altar  hy  Anti- 
'•  !iU5  Epiphaius,  is  suj»[»o.^ed  to  be  the  abomination  that  inak- 
<^i/t  desoUitc,  foretold  by  Daniel^  chap.  xi.  31,  as  the  Roman 
enshfn,  with  ti'.e  eagle  on  it,  which  Ha.<  the  bird  of  Jupiter,  set  « 
up  m  the  Ivuiple,  was  tht.  abomination  of  desolation  which 
Daniel  forntels,  Daji.  \x.  27,  and  chap.  xii.  11,  and  which  our 
Saviour  refer*  t.>,  Matt.  xxiv.  15.  Abomination^  the  cominon 
name  for  an  idol  in  ll.'e  OM  Testament :  and  when  such  are  set 
up  in  the  sanctuary,  it  may  ^ell  be  called  desolation,  for  the 
riests  are  driven  away,  and  ti«e  »rue  worvhi[>  wf  God  ceases. 

Obftrve  vet  further,  that  tliis  Anliochu?  Epiphanes  is  calle»d 


458  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  19. 

by  some  the  Jewish  Antichrist ;  because  several  of  the  same 
things  are  foretold  of  him  by  the  prophet  Daniel,  which  are  al- 
so jjtedicted  of  the  Roman  Antichrist,  in  the  Christian  church, 
by  the  apostle  John. 

16  Q.  Did  any  of  the  Israelites  comply  wdth  his 
commands  ? 

A.  Though  there  were  multitudes  who  would  not  de- 
file themselves,  and  break  the  law  of  God,  yet  too  many 
of  them  for  fear,  and  some  out  of  ambition  to  please  the 
king,  conformed  to  his  religion,  and  sacrificed,  and  burnt 
incense  to  idols  in  the  streets  of  the  cities  of  Judea. 

17  ({.    How  did  the  king  punish  those  that  refused  ? 
A.     He  put  the  men  to  death  every  month,  he  slew 

several  women  tliat  had  caused  their  children  to  be  cir- 
cumcised, hanged  the  infants  about  their  necks,  and  kill- 
ed those  that  circumcised  them.    This  persecution  may 

_be  seen  more  at  large,   1  Mace,  chap.  i.  and  iii.  and  2. 

~Macc,  vi. 

18  Q.     What  did  the  Samaritans  do  on  this  occasion  ? 

A.  Wlien  the  Jews  were  in  prosperity,  they  chal- 
lenged kindred  with  the  Jews  :  but  they  disowned  them 
when  they  were  under  persecution :  and  therefore  on 
this  occasion  they  made  no  apology  to  Antiochus  the 
king,  for  having  heretofore  used  the  Jewish  rites ;  but 
now  having  renounced  them,  they  complied  with  the 
iieathen  religion,  and  desired  their  temple  on  Mount 
Gerriziin  might  be  made  the  temple  of  the  Grecian  Ju- 
piter, the  defender  of  strangers.     2  Mace,  vi. 


Sect.  V.     Of  Mcdtathias,  the  Father  of  the  Macca- 
bees, and  the  great  Reformer. 

1  Q.  Whex  the  persecution  was  so  violent  in  Judea, 
-was  there  any  eminent  public  opposition  made  to  it  by 
any  of  the  Jews  ? 

*^.  Mattathias,  a  priest  of  the  course  of  Joarib,  who 
dwelt  in  iSIodin,  was  complimented  by  the  king's  officers, 
mnd  tempted  to  c(rmply  with  heathen  worship  there,  ac- 


ct.  5.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  159 

voiding  to  the  king's  commandment ;  but  lie  boldly  re- 
nounced their  superstitions,  and  declared  his  resolution 
*o  die  in  the  relij^ion  of  the  Jews.     1  Mace,  ii. 

2  Q.  What  instance  did  he  give  of  his  courage  and 
zeal  ? 

//.  When  one  of  the  Jews  came  to  sacrifice  on  tne 
heathen  altar  which  was  at  Modin,  he  could  not  forbear 
to  shew  his  indignation,  as  a  zealot,  but  ran  and  slew  the 
man  upon  the  altar,  and  at  the  same  time  killed  the 
king's  chief  officer  there,  who  came  to  enforce  these 
wicked  commands. 

3  Q.  In  what  manner  did  he  maintain  this  bold  en- 
'terprise  } 

A.  He  cried  with  a  loud  voice  through  the  city,  Who- 
soever is  zealous  of  the  law  let  him  follow  me.  So  he 
and  his  sons  fled  to  the  mountains,  and  a  great  number 
of  Jews  fled  with  him,  and  hid  themselves  m  the  wilder- 
ness. 

4  Q.     Did  not  the  kind's  army  pursue  them  ? 

•^.  Yes;  and  campea  against  them,  and  attacked  a 
considerable  number  of  them  on  the  sabbath  day. 

5  Q.     And  did  the  Jews  make  no  resistance  r 

/§,  None  at  all,  because  it  was  the  sabbath  ;  but  they 
said.  Let  lis  all  die  in  our  innocency : .  whereupon  a 
thousand  people  were  slain. 

6  Q.  Did  Mattathias  and  his  friends  approve  of  this 
conduct  ? 

A.  It  seems  as  if  their  zeal  at  first  approved  of  it : 
but  upon  better  ccmsideration  they  decreed,  it  was  lawful 
and  necessary  for  them  to  defend  themselves,  if  they 
were  attacked  again  on  the  sabbath  day. 

JVo/c.  This  decree  was  ratified  by  tlifi  const nt  of  all  the 
priests  and  ciders  amongst  them,  and  it  was  sent  to  all  others 
through  the  land,  and  was  made  a  rule  in  their  following  wars. 

7  Q.  What  did  king  Autiochus  do,  when  he  heard  of 
this  bold  and  public  resistance  made  to  his  command- 
and  his  government  ? 

A.     He  executed  very  great  cruelties  on  all  the  Jews 
tliat  fell  into  his  hands,  who  would  not  forsake  tlie  law  of 
Moses  ;  since  the  mere  terrors  of  death  did  not  aftright 
l\eni. 


160  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Clmp.  19; 

8  Q.  What  very  remarkable  instances  do  we  find  in 
history  of  this  cruelty  ? 

»^.  Seven  brethren,  witli  their  mother,  M^ere  terribly 
tormented,  to  constrain  them  to  eat  swine's  flesh,  whicK 
the  law  of  Moses  forbids. 

9  ^.     How  did  they  endure  their  torments? 

^^.  Witl)  great  courage,  one  after  another,  in  a  Ion"; 
siiccession,  they  bore  tlie  various  tt)rtures  that  were  in- 
flicted on  them,  and  declared  they  were  ready  to  suffer 
rather  than  transgress  tjie  laws  of  their  fathers. 

10  Q.  What  tortures  wove  those  which  the  king  ex- 
ecuted upon  them  ?' 

J.  A  great  variety  of  exquisite  and  bloody  cruelties : 
iheir  limbs  were  cut  off,  their  tongues  M'ere  cut  out,  they 
were  fried  in  frying-pans,  the  skin  of  the  licad  was  toj-n 
off  with  the  hair,  aiid  they  died  under  the  anguish  ami 
violence  of  these  torments;  while  their  mother  at  the 
same  time  looked  on,  and  encouraged  them  all  to  suffer 
boldly,  in  opposition  to  the  entreaties,  threatenings,  and 
commands  of  the  king. 

11  Q.  In  what  manner  did  she  encourage  her  sons 
in  their  sufferings? 

*^.  By  the  tenderest  speeches  of  an  affectionate 
fmother  to  her  sons,  she  beseeched  them  to  fear  God,  and 
not  man ;  and  to  endure,  in  hope  of  a  happy  resuncc- 
lion,  when  she  should  receive  tliem  all  again  in  mercy. 

l!2  Q.     Did  she  herself  also  suffer  the  torment? 

Jl.  When  she  liad  seen  all  her  sons  die  like  martyrs 
before  her,  she  finished  that  sad  spectacle,  and  died  also 
for  her  religion.     2  Mace.  vii. 

13  Q.  What  did  Mattathias  do  all  this  while  in  the 
mountains? 

Jl.  lie  still  encouraged  the  Jews  to  join  with  him, 
and  among  others,  there  were  many  of  the  Assideans, 
v,ho  were  zealous  for  the  law,  resorted  to  him. 

14  Q.  Who  were  these  JlssideiuiSy  or  Chasideans,  as 
It  ouglit  to  be  written  ? 

.f.  A  sect  among  the  Jews,  wlio  were  called  Chasidim, 
or  the  pious,  who  were  not  only  zealous  of  the  law,  but 
of  many  other  constitutions  and  traditions,  and  forms  of 
mortification,  beyond  what  .the  law  renuired;  whereas 


>ect.  6.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  161 

those  who  contented  themselves  with  what  was  written 
in  the  law,  were  called  Zadikim,  or  the  righteous, 

15  Q.  What  exploits  did  Mattathias  and  his  friends 
peiforni  ? 

•^.  They  went  round  about  the  towns  and  villages, 
pulled  down  the  heathen  altars,  and  circumcised  the 
children ;  titej  slew  and  put  to  flight  many  of  their  en- 
emies, and  recovered  several  copies  of  the  Jewish  law. 

16  H.     When  Mattathias  died,  who  succeeded  him  ? 
/f .     Just  before  his  deatli  he  made  a  noble  speech  to 

his  five  sons  to  encourage  them  in  the  defence  of  tlieir 
religion  and  their  country :  he  recommended  his  son  Si- 
mon, as  a  man  of  counsel,  but  he  made  his  son  Judas, 
surnamed  jNIaccabeus,  tlieir  captain. 

17  Q.     How  came  he  to  be  called  Maccabeus? 

A.  The  motto  of  his  standaixl  was  the  first  letters  of 
that  Hebrew  sentence,  E.vod.  xv.  11,  Mi  Camoka 
Back Um  Jehovah ,t\mt  is,  JVho  is  like  to  thee  among;  the 
Gods,  O  Lord/  Which  letters  were  formed  into  the  ar- 
tificial word  Maccahiy  and  all  tliat  fought  under  his 
standard  were  called  Maccabees. 

.Vo/c.     This  has  been  a  common  practice  among  the  Jews,  to 

:  ime  words  hi  this  manner.    So  Rabbi  Moses  Ben  Maimon,  that 

.   the  son  of  Maimon,  is  called    Ranibam  ;    Rabbi   Solomon 

irchi,  is  called  Rati.     Nor  is  the  use  of  the  tirst  letters  of 

words  for  such  kind  of  purposes  unknown  among  heathens  or 

Christians.     The  letters  S.  P.  Q.  R.  were-  written  on  the  Roman 

•^tiindard,  for  Senatus  Popnlus  Qu(t  Romanits ;  that  i?,  "  \hi 

Roman  senate   and   people.''     .Tesus   Christ  our  Saviour  hatij 

"    '  a    F/i7i,  in  Greek  IX0TZ,  by  the  fathers,  because 

fir«t  letters  of  those  Greek  words,  Jems  Christ, 


-ncT.  VI.  Of  the  Jewish  Government  under  the 
.Maccnhees,  or  ^ismonians :  and  frst  of  the  three. 
Brothers  Judas,  Jonathan^  and  f^imon. 

1   r^.     What  valiant  actions  did  Judas  and  his  breih- 
rn  do,  iin  defence  of  tlie  law,  and  against  their  perse- 
tors  ? 

15* 


162  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19- 

Ji.  He  won  many  battles  against  king  Antiochus  and 
his  generals,  and  encouraged  himself  and  his  soldiers  in 
the  name  of  God,  whensoever  they  began  to  faint. 

2  Q.  Where  are  these  acts  of  Judas  and  his  breth- 
ren recorded  ?  . 

»i.  The  earliest  account  of  them  is  found  in  the  first 
and  second  book  of  Maccabees. 

Here  nott^  That  the  first  book  of  Maccabees  is  a  very  accurate 
and  excellent  history,  and  comes  nearest  to  the  style  and  man- 
ner of  the  sacred  writings  :  and  is  supposed  to  be  written  a  little 
after  these  persecutions  and  wars  were  ended.  But  the  second 
book  consists  of  several  pieces  of  much  less  value  :  It  begins 
with  two  epistles  from  the  Jews  of  Jerusalem,  but  both  are  sup- 
posed to  be  fabulous  stories,  and  in  some  parts  impossible  to  be 
true.  The  following  parts  of  it  pretend  to  be  an  abridgment  of 
the  history  of  one  Jason  ;  it  relates  some  of  the  persecutions  of 
Antiochus,  and  the  acts  of  Judas,  amplified  with  particular  cir- 
cumstances ;  but  it  is  not  of  equal  esteem  with  the  first  book, 
for  it  seems  to  affect  miracles  and  prodigious  events,  beyond 
reasonable  credibility. 

S  Q.  How  did  king  Antiochus  resent  these  attempts 
of  Judas,  and  his  successes  against  him  ? 

Ji,  When  he  went  into  Persia  to  gatlier  the  tribute  of 
"the  countries  there,  he  left  Lysias  with  half  his  army, 
and  with  express  orders  to  destroy  and  root  the  Jews  out 
of  their  land  ? 

4  Q.     Did  Lysias  pursue  the  king's  orders  ? 

»  A,  Yes ;  with  great  diligence  he  sought  to  execute 
these  cruel  orders:  his  army,  of  forty  thousand  foot 
and  seven  thousand  horse,  encamped  at  Emmaus  near 
Jerusalem  ;  and  another  army  of  a  thousand  merchants, 
flocked  thither  upon  presumption  of  their  victory,  with 
great  quantities  of  silver  and  gold  to  buy  the  captives 
for  slaves. 

5  Q.  How  did  their  wicked  counsel  to  destroy  Israel 
succeed  ? 

Ji.  When  they  were  thus  secure  and  confident  of 
success,  Judas  and  his  brethren  assembled  at  Mizpah, 
fasted,  put  on  sackclotli,  laid  open  the  book  of  the  law 
before  God,  where  the  heathens  had  painted  their  images, 
c}:ied  mightily  unto  God  for  help,  sounded  the  trumpets, 


Sect.  G.  SCRIPTURE  HlSTbRV 


1(1) 


brought  the  army  into  order,  ami  prepared  for  battle  and 
for  death,  unless  God  pleased  to  make  them  conquerors. 

6  Q.  \Vhat  was  the  event  of  so  much  pious  zeal  and 
coui-age  ? 

A.  Judas  and  his  army  put  to  flight  and  destroyed 
several  lai-gc  parties  that  liVsias  had  sent  against  him, 
they  drove  the  enemy  out  of  Jerusalem,  and  almost  out 
of  the  land  of  Judea,  and  took  a  very  large  booty  both 
from  the  army  an<l  the  merchants. 

7  ({.  What  was  the  first  work  that  Judas  and  his 
people  applied  themselves  to  upon  this  great  success  ? 

A.  They  went  up  into  Mount  Zion,  and  when  they 
saw  the  sanctuary  desolate,  the  altar  profaned,  the  gates 
burnt  up,  shrubs  and  grass  growing  in  the  courts  of  the 
temple,  they  rent  their  clothes,  tell  down  upon  their, 
faces,  and  made  great  lamentation,  with  humble  cries  to 
heaven. 

8  Q.  Had  tliey  power  and  time  to  repair  the  temple, 
and  restore  tlie  worship  of  God  ? 

ml.  Yes ;  they  applied  themselves  to  the  work  with 
all  dilijtence,  they  sought  out  priests  of  blameless  con- 
versation to  cleanse  the  sanctuary ;  they  pulled  down 
the  altar  of  burnt-offerings,  because  the  heathens  had  de- 
iiled  it :  they  built  a  new  altar,  as  the  law  directs,  with 
whole  stones;  they  made  new  holy  vessels,  the  altar  of 
incense,  the  table,  and  the  candlesticks,  all  of  gold, 
which  they  had  taken  from  their  enemies ;  and  they  set 
all  the  parts  of  divine  worship,  in  order  again,  and  offer- 
ed sacrifice  according  to  the  law. 

9  Q.  How  did  mey  kindle  the  sacred  fire  on  the 
altar  r        • 

A.  Having  lost  the  fire  which  came  down  from  heav- 
en, which  was  kept  burning  on  the  altar  at  Jerusalem 
before  the  Babylonish  captivity,  they  struck  fire  with 
flints,  and  so  kindled  the  sacrifices  and  the  lamps.  2 
JMacc.  X.  3. 

JVo/e.  We  do  not  read,  that  the  «econ  J  temple  ever  had  this 
acred  fire  :  the  story  of  Jeremiah's  hiding  it,  in  2  Mace.  chap.  i. 
in  counted  a  mere  table. 


3  64  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19. 

10  Q.  Was  there  any  thing  remarkable  in  the  time 
or  day  of  this  restoration  of  temple  worship? 

J.  That  very  day  three  years  wlierein  the  heathen 
had  profaned  the  altar  by  the  offering  of  unclean  beasts 
on  it,  it  was  dedicated  with  songs,  and  harps,  and  cym- 
bals, and  burnt-offerings  of  God's  appointment,  and  that, 
for  eight  days  together.  This  was  two  years  after  Ju- 
das had  the  chief  command,  and  three  years  and  a  half 
after  the  city  and  temple  had  been  laid  desolate  by  Apol- 
lonius. 

11  Q.  What  lasting  memorial  was  appointed  for  this 
restoration  of  the  worship  of  God  in  the  temple  ? 

//.  Judas  and  his  brethren,  and  tlie  whole  congrega- 
tion ordained  that  these  days  of  the  dedication  of  the 
-iltar  should  be  kept  yearly  with  mirth  and  gladness, 

12  Q.  Did  the  w'orship  of  God  continue  long  here 
after  this  solemnity  ? 

^1.  We  are  told  by  historians,  that  it  continued  from 
this  time  without  any  interruption  from  the  heathens  till 
the  destruction  of  the  temple  by  the  Romans,  though  Je- 
nisalem  and  the  temple  were  often  in  the  hands  of  the 
heathens. 

JVo/e.  Some  say  this  was  that  very  feast  of  dedication,  which 
our  Saviour  honoured  with  his  presence  at  Jerusalem  :  though 
others  think  it  was  the  dedication  of  Solomon's  temple.  Yet 
the  season  being  winter,  it  rather  agrees  to  the  time  of  Macca- 
beus's  dedication. 

13  Q.  Were  not  the  Jews  at  all  annoyed  or  disturb- 
ed by  the  enemy  in  this  pious  work  ? 

*4.  There  was  still  that  fortress  built  by  Apollonius 
remaining  in  the  hands  of  the  heathens  aitd  apostate 
Jews;  it  stood  on  Mount  Acra,  a  rising  ground  over 
against  the  mountain  of  tlie  temple,  and  ratlier  higher 
than  that  mountain,  whence  the  Jews  received  some  an- 
noyance in  going  to  the  temple. 

14  Q.  What  farther  care  did  Judas  and  his  people 
take  for  their  own  security  ? 

A,  When  they  could  not  drive  out  the  enemy  at  once, 
they  built  up  Mount  Zion,  with  liigh  walls  and  strong 
towers,  and  put  a  garrison  there  to  keep  it,  and  as  far  as 


ct.  6.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  I6.:3 

possible  to  secure  the  priests  and  people  when  tliey  went 
to  worship,  and  to  prevent  the  Gentiles  from  treadin;^ 
down  the  sanctuaiy  again. 

15  ^,  Did  Judas  and  his  people  continue  to  enjoy 
peace  r 

Jl.  Though  they  maintained  the  temple  worship,  yet 
t'U'v  were  still  engaged  in  war  :  for  all  the  nations  round- 

'  tut  them  were  much  displeased  that  the  sanctirary  was 
restored,  and  they  attacj^ed  the  Jews  on  every  side  ;  but 
God  gave  Judas  and  his  brethren  the  victory  in  many 
battles :  and  they  returned  to  Jerusalem,  and  gave  thanks 
to  God  i!i  7Aon  for  his  remarkable  protection  of  tliem,that 
they  had  not  lost  one  man.     1  Mace.  v.  54. 

16  ^.  Did  Judas  make  any  more  expeditions  against 
his  enemies  ? 

.:?.  He  led  fordi  his  forces  against  Gorgias,  one  of  An- 
riochus'^  generals,  and  against  the  Idumeans,  who  had 
been  very  vexatious  io  the  Jews  ;  antl  though  several  of 
the  Jews  were  slain,  y^ii  Judas  renewing  the  courage  of 
his  army  by  singing  psalms  with  a  loud  voice,  and  rush- 
ing upon  their  enemies,  put  them  to  flight. 

1 7  ({.  What  remarkable  crime  was  found  among  the- 
Jews  tijat  were  s'ain  r 

.9.  When  they  came  to  bury  their  dead,  they  found 
tilings  consecrated  to  idols  under  the  garment  of  every 
Jew  that  was  slain,  whereupon  the  people  praised  the 
Lord,  the  righteous  Judge  of  men :  but,  without  any  en- 
couragement from  Scripture,  they  oftered  sacrifices'  and 
prayers  for  the  pardon  of  the  deatl.     2  J^acc.  xii.  54,  &.c. 

.Vo^p.     It  is  from  this  place,  in  the  second  book  of  tf-.r  Mucrn- 
•  ?,  that  the  {.itpista  borrow  their  prayers  for  the  dead. 

1 8  Q.     Where  was  Antiochus  the  king  all  this  while  ? 
./.     He  was  gone  to  Persia,  not  oidy  to  receive  his 

tribute,  as  1  Mace,  iii,  31,  but  to  plunder  the  temple  of 
Diana,  (who  among  the  Persians  is  called  Zaretes)  which 
temple  8toi>d  at  Elvmas,  and  had  incredible  riches  of 
gold  and  silver,  and  golden  annour  which  were  laid  up 
there. 

19  ff.    Did  he  succeed  in  this  enterpriser 


166  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  1&. 

*^.  The  people  of  the  country,  having  notice  of  his 
design,  joined  together  in  defence^of  that  idol's  temple, 
and  beat  him  off  with  shame. 

20  Q.  How  did  he  receive  the  news  of  the  defeat  of 
his  generals  and  armies  in  Judea  ? 

^.  With  the  utmost  rage  and  indignation,  as  Avell  as 
grief  of  mind  ;  but  he  resolved  to  make  haste  thitner, 
and  threatened  to  make  the  city  of  Jerusalem  as  one 
grave  for  the  Jews,  where  he  would  bury  tlie  whole  na- 
tion, 

21  Q.  "Wliat  followed  upon  this  insolent  speech  of 
Antiochus  the  king  ? 

*d!.  He  was  immediately  smitten  wi'th  an  incurable 
plague  in  the  midst  of  his  journey,  his  bowels  were  seized 
with  grievous  torment,  his  chariot  was  overthrown,  and 
he  was  sorely  bruised,  and  forced  to  be  confined  ^o  his 
bed  in  a  little  town  on  the  road,  where  he  lay  languish- 
ing under  foul  ulcers  of  body,  and  sharp  terror  of  mind, 
till  he  died. 

Mote.  It  hath  been  observed  by  liistorians,  that  such  a  sort 
r  f  death  by  foul  ulcers,  hath  befallen  many  persecutors,  both  in 
former  and  latter  times. 

22  ^,  Had  he  any  regret  upon  his  conscience,  par- 
ticularly for  his  cruelty  and  wickedness  practised  upon 
the  Jews  ? 

.5.  Both  Jews  and  heathens  give  us  an  account  of 
the  dreadful  anguish  of  mind  which  he  then  suffered ; 
and  though  the  licatlien  historian  attributes  it  to  the  in- 
tended sacrilege  and  robbery  designed  upon  the  temple 
of  Diana,  yet  the  Jewish  historians  acquaint  us,  that  An- 
tiochus himself  imputed  his  calamities  to  the  horrid  im- 
pieties and  cruelties  that  he  had  been  guilty  of  against 
the  God  of  Israel  and  his  people,  and  bitterly  repented 
of  them  with  inward  horror  on.  his  death-bed. 

J^ott.  This  Antiochus  Epiphanes  having  been  a  great  oppres- 
sor of  the  Jewish  church,  and  the  type  of  Antichrist,  there  is  a 
larger  account  of  him  in  Daniel's  prophecy  than  of  any  other 
prinpe.  The  llth  chap.  ver.  1.1 — 45,  relates  wholly  to  him,  as 
well  as  some  passages  in  the  8th  and  1:2th  chapters,  the  expli- 
cation and  accompli'^hment  of  which  in;'.y  be  read  in  Dr.  Tri-" 


Sect  6.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  167 

uux's  Connection,  part  ii.  book  iii.  And  the  accomplishment 
-0  exact,  that  Porphyry,  a  learned  heathen  in  the  third  ceii- 
ry,  pretends  that  it  is  a  mere  history,  and  tliat  it  was  %rritt'jn 
tcT  the  event. 

23  ^.  What  became  of  the  garrison  of  the  Syrians 
in  the  tower  of  Acra,  which  so  much  molested  the  Jews 
in  Jerusalem  ? 

JL  Judas  Maccabeus  besieged  them,  whereupon  An- 
tiochus  Eupator,  the  son  and  successor  of  Epiphanes, 
brought  a  vast  army  against  Judas,  consisting  of  a  hun- 
dred thousand  foot,  twenty  thousand  horse,  thirty-two 
■•'phants,  and  three  hundred  armed  chariots  of  war. 

•24  ^.  What  could  the  Jews  do  against  so  great  an 
army  r 

A.  Judas  having  given  this  watch-word,  Victory  is 
of  the  Lord,  (all  upon  them  in  the  night,  and  having 
slain  four  thousanu  imn»ediately,  and  six  hundred  the 
next  morning,  made  a  safe  retreat  to  Jerusalem. 

25  Q.  AVhat  remarkable  instance  of  courage  was 
given  by  Eleazer,  the  brother  of  Judas,  in  this  battle  ? 

.^.  When  he  saw  one  elephant  higher  and  more 
adorned  than  the  rest,  he  supposed  the  king  himself  was 
on  it ;  therefore  he  ran  furiously  through  tlie  troops,  and 
made  his  way  to  the  beast,  he  tlirust  up  his  spear  under 
his  belly,  and  the  beast  with  the  tower  that  was  upon  iiim, 
falling  down,  crushed  him  to  deatli. 

26  Q.  Had  Antiochus  Eupator's  army  any  success 
afterward  against  tlie  Jews  ? 

j].  They  marched  to  Jerusalem  under  the  command 
of  Lysias,  they  besieged  tlie  sanctuary,  and  wiien  the 
Jews  were  near  surrendering  for  want  of  provision,  they 
were  strangely  relieved  by  the  providence  of  God. 

27  Q.     In  what  manner  did  this  relief  come  r 

J,  Lysias  h.earing  that  tlie  city  of  Antioch  was  seized 
by  one  Philip,  a  favourite  of  the  late  king,  who  had  taken 
upon  him  the  government  of  Syria,  persuaded  the  pre»- 
QUt  king  to  grant  peace  to  the  Jews,  which  he  did  ;  yet 
contrary  to  his  own  promise,  he  pulled  down  the  fortifi- 
cations of  t!^*"  *'^'"' '•   ■•'  '••"  -•"  <■  ■^'■']  'J?"  »-»—     ♦'•'m;y 

'they  were. 


198  SCRIPTURE  HISTOHY.        Chap.  19. 

,  28  Q.  What  beearae .  of  Menelaus,  the  wicked  high 
priest  ? 

J,  He  attended  the  king's  army  in  tliis  expedition 
against  Jerusalem,  in  hopes  to  recover  his  office,  and  to 
be  made  governor  there :  but  Lysias,  finding  this  war 
<}xceeding  troublesome,  accused  Menelaus  to  the  king  as 
the  author  of  all  this  mischief:  whereupon  he  was  con- 
demned to  a  miserable  death,  being  cast  headlong  into  a 
tower  of  ashes  fifty  cubits  high. 

29  ^.     Who  was  his  successor  in  the  the  priestliood  ? 
^,    OniaSjthe  son  of  Onias  the  third,  and  nephew  to 

Menelaus,  was  the  more  rightful  successor,  but  the  king 
rejected  him:  and  being  disappointed  of  it,  he  fled  into 
Egypt;  while  Alcimus  or  Jacimus,  one  of  the  family  of 
Aaron,  (though  not  in  the  right  line  of  Josedek,  to  which 
the  priesthood  belonged)  was  made  high  priest  by  Antio- 
thus  Eupator  the  king. 

J^ole.  It  was  Joshua  the  son  of  Josedech  or  Jozadek,  was 
the  rightful  high  priest  at  the  return  from  Babylon.  See  jBsra 
iii.  2,  and  Hag.  i,  1. 

30  Q.  Was  Alcimus  admitted  to  the  exercise  of  the 
office  in  Jerusalem  ? 

•5.  He  was  refused  by  the  Jews,  because  he  had  com- 
plied with  tlie  heathen  superstition  in  the  time  of  the  per- 
secution ;  but  he  besought  the  aid  of  Demetrius  the  new 
king  against  Judas  and  the  people,  who  refused  to  re- 
ceive hinu 

31  Q.     How  came  this  Demetrius  to  be  king? 

J.  He  was  the  son  of  Seleucus  Philopater,  who  was 
the  eldest  brother  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes  ;  and  thougli 
he  could  not  persuade  the  Romans  to  assist  him  in  seiz- 
ing the  kingdom  of  Syria,  since  Antiochus  Epiphanes 
was  dead,  yet  he  landed  in  Syria,  and  persuaded  the 
jieople  tliat  the  Romans  had  sent  him  :  whereupon  An- 
tiochus Eupator  and  Lysias  were  seized  by  their  own 
soldiers,  and  put  to  death  by  order  of  Demetrius. 

32  Q.  Did  Demetrius  establish  Alcimus  in  the 
priesthood,  in  opposition  to  Judas  and  his  people? 

•4.  He  endeavoured  to  do  it  by  sending  one  Bac- 
rhides  against  them,  but   without  success ;   afterwards 


Sect  6.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  169 

making  Nicanor,  who  was  master  of  his  elephants,  gover- 
nor of  Judea,  he  sent  him  to  slay  Judas,  and  to  subdue 
the  Jews, 

SPi  Q.     What  success  had  Nicanor  in  this  attempt  ? 

*i.  Though  at  first  lie  was  unwilling  to  make  war 
on  Judas,  yet  being  urged  by  the  king,  he  pursued  it 
with  fury ;  and  having  spoken  many  blasplieinous  words 
against  the  temple  and  the  God  of  Israel,  and  threatened 
to  demolish  it,  and  to  build  a  temple  to  Bacchus  in  the 
room  of  it,  he  himself  was  slain,  and  his  army  was  shame- 
fully routed  by  Judas. 

34  ^.  VVh.it  encouragement  had  Judas  to  hope  for 
victory  in  this  battle  ? 

Jl.  Not  only  from  the  blasphemies  of  Nicanor,  but  he 
was  aniiDated  also  by  a  divine  vision,  and  thus  he  en- 
countered his  enemies  with  cheerfulness,  and  with  earn- 
est prayer  to  God.     2  •Mace,  xiv  and  xv, 

35  ^.  What  rejoicing  did  Judas  and  the  Jews  make 
on  this  occasion  } 

A.  He  cut  off*  Nicanor's  head,  and  his  right  hand, 
which  he  had  stretched  out  gainst  the  temple,  and  hang- 
ed them  up  upon  one  of  tlie  towers  of  Jerusalem,  and  ap- 
pointed a  yearly  day  of  thanksgiving  in  memory  of  this 
victory,  which  is  called  Nicanor's  day. 

36  (^.  What  was  the  next  act  of  Judas  for  the  good 
of  his  countiy  ? 

Ji.  Hearing  of  the  growng  greatness  of  the  Romans, 
he  sent  to  make  a  league  for  mutual  defence  with  them ; 
to  which  tlie  Romans  consented,  and  established  it,  ac- 
knowledging the  Jews  as  their  friends  and  allies,  and  or- 
dered Demetrius  to  vex  them  no  more. 

37  ^.     Did  Demetrius  obey  these  orders? 

A.  Before  tliese  orders  came  to  his  hand,  he  had  sent 
Bacchidcs  tl>e  second  time  to  revenj^e  Nicanor's  death, 
and  to  establish  Alcimus  in  tlie  priestliood. 

38  ^.  What  success  had  tins  second  expedition  of 
Bacchides  against  the  Jews  "^ 

J.     A  very  uaJiappy  one  indeed  for  the  Jews:  for  he 
so  much  overpowered  Judas  with  the  number  of  his  forc- 
es, who  had  then  but  three  thousand  men  with  him,  and 
16 


170  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19. 

even  the  greatest  part  of  these  three  thousand  fled  from 
him  for  fear :  and  Judas  being  ashamed  to  fly  for  his  life, 
he  was  slain  through  an  excess  of  courage. 

39  Q.    What  mischiefs  ensued  on  the  death  of  Judas  ? 

J.  The  Jews  were  greatly  disheartened  ;  Bacchides 
prevailed  every  where,  took  Jerusalem,  subdued  the 
greatest  part  of  the  country,  and  put  to  death  the  friends 
of  Judas,  where  he  could  find  them ;  many  apostate  Jews 
sided  with  him.  Alcimus  exercised  the  high  priesthood 
in  a  very  wicked  manner,  and  imitated  the  heathen  su- 
perstition in  the  worship  of  God.  He  gave  orders  to 
pull  down  the  wall  of  the  inner  court  of  the  sanctuary, 
and  is  supposed  also  to  break  down  the  wall  which  di- 
vided the  more  holy  part  of  the  mountain  of  the  temple 
from  the  less  holy,  and  gave  the  Gentiles  equal  liberty 
with  the  Jews  to  enter  there. 

JVo?e  first.  It  is  said  in  1  Mace.  ix.  54,  that  he  actually  pull- 
ed down  the  work  of  the  prophets.,  whatever  that  was  :  But  it  is 
thought  he  only  gave  order  for  pulling  down  the  wall  of  the  in- 
ner court.,  which  may  be  supposed  to  be  the  court  of  the  priests. 

JVote  second.  It  is  hard  to  determine  how  far  the  wall,  which 
separated  the  Gentiles  from  that  outer  cpurt  of  the  temple, 
which  was  made  for  the  Jews^  was  of  God''s  appointment,  or 
how  early  it  was  built.  We  do  not  read  of  it  in  Scripture, 
neither  in  the  building  of  the  temple  of  Solomon,  where  there 
was  only  the  court  of  the  priests^  and  the  great  court  ;  nor  in  the 
jebuilding  it  by  Zerubbabel  does  Scripture  tell  us  of  such  a  sep- 
aration. Indeed,  in  Jehoshaphat^s  time,  we  read  of  a  new  court ^ 
2  Chron.  xx.  5.  What  it  was  no  man  knows  certainly;  per- 
haps it  was  only  one  court  renewed-  For  in  Manasseh's  days, 
which  was  about  200  years  after,  there  were  but  ttio  courts,  2 
Chron.  xxxii.  5.  Dr.  Prideaux  indeed  supposes,  that  the  latter 
prophets,  Haggai  and  Zechariah,  ordered  a  low  wall,  or  rather 
inclosure,  to  be  built,  called  C/ie/,  in  the  second  temple,  within 
which  no  uncircunicised  person  should  enter :  and  one  reason 
of  that  opinion  is,  becfuise,  1  Mace.  ix.  54,  it  is  said,  that  Alci- 
mus pulled  down  <tiso  the  work  of  the  prophets.  That  there  was 
such  a  separating  wall  in  the  days  of  the  Maccabees,  or  before, 
is  generally  suppo-^ed  ;  that  this  court  of  the  Gentiles  was  also  in 
IlerodVs  temple,  is  agreed  ;  and  there  seems  to  be  a  reference  io 
it  in  Ephes.  ii.  14 — having  broken  down  the  middle  waU,,  or  par- 
tition.— See  Lovvth  on  Ezek.  xl.  17.  But  whether  any  of  tin 
."jrgnjneDts  i\re  f/lbclnal  to  prove  it  was  of  divine  appointmcnl. 


?;ect.6.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  171 

the  learned  reader  must  judge.  See  Prideaux's  Connection  of  the 
Old  and  .Yttv  Test.  Part  II.  Book  IV.  Page  261,  in  8vo.  and 
Litfhtfoot  of  the  temple^  chap.  xvii. 

If  it  be  us  some  have  maintained,  that  the  Jews  in  rebuilding 
that  tAiple  under  Zerubbabel,  took  pattern,  in  a  great  measure, 
Irom  the  prophetical  temple  in  Ezekiers  vision ;  then  there 
seems  to  have  been  a  court  large  enough  for  the  court  of  the 
Gentiles:  for  chap,  xl.  5,  and  xlii.  20, — There  tras  a  wall  on 
the  outside  of  the  house  round  about^  of  Jive  hundred  reeds 
square^  to  make  a  separation  between  the  sanctuary  and  the  pro- 
fane place.  See  Lou  th  on  those  texts.  Perhaps  in  these  times 
this  was  called  the  mount  of  the  temple. 

40  Q.  What  became  of  Alcimus  when  he  practised 
these  things  with  insolence  ? 

.?.  He  was  smitten  by  the  hand  of  God  with  a  palsy, 
his  speech  w.as  taken  .iway,  so  that  he  could  give  no  fur- 
ther wicked  commands,  nor  so  much  as  set  in  order  his 
own  house,  and  he  died  in  great  torment.  1  Mace.  ix. 
54,  55. 

41  Q.  Did  the  surviving  brethren  of  Juda"  Macca- 
beus make  no  elTorts  against  these  their  enemies? 

J].  Yes ;  his  brother  Jonathan,  being  chosen  by  th« 
people,  took  on  him  the  government ;  and  though  their 
brother  John  was  slain  by  the  Jambrites,.  yet  Simon  re- 
mained ;  and  these  two  made  such  a  continual  resistance, 
that  in  some  years  time,  Alcimus  being  dead,  Bacchides 
grew  weary  of  the  war,  and  he  was  inclined  at  last  to 
make  a  firm  peace;  and  then  he  restored  the  Jews 
which  had  been  his  prisoners,  and  departed  from  Judca 
without  ever  returnincr. 

^^2  ((.     AVIiat  use  did  Jonathan  make  of  this  peace? 

.7.  lie  iiovcrned  Israel  according  to  the  law  ;  he  re- 
"-torcd  the  Jewish  religion,  relorined  every  thing  as  far  a» 
he  could,  both  in  clnirch  and  state,  and  rebuilt  the  w^Us 
and  fortifications  of  Zion. 

43  ((,  Wlw  performed  the  office  of  high  priest  all  this 
lime  ? 

»7.  There  was  a  vacancy  of  the  ofiice  for  seven  years, 
;ifter  the  death  of  Alcimus  :  till  Alexander  an  impostor, 
pretended  to  be  the  son  of  Antiot  hus  Epiphanes,  seized 
'he  kingdom  of  Syria,  and  made  high  proposals  to  engage 


ir2  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  ig. 

Jonathan  on  his  side  against  Demetrius,  wlio  had  been 
their  enemy.  Among  these  proposals,  one  was  this,— 
That  he  should  he  constituted  and  maintained  the  £•«?- 
x^ernor  and  the  high  priest  of  the  Jews,  and  be  called 
the  king's  friend.     1  Mace,  x.  18—20. 

J^ote.  I  think  Josephus  supposes  Judas  to  have  been  made 
high  priest  before^his  death  ;  but  Dr.  Prideaux  does  not  seem  to 
follow  him  in  this  matter  ;  nor  doUi  tlje  book  of  Maccabees 
give  any  account  of  it.  Though  upon  Judas^s  restoring  the 
Jewish  worship  in  the  temple,  there  must  be  some  person  to  of- 
ficiate as  high  priest  upon  some  occasions.  And  Onias  being  fled 
mto  Eg3-pt,  whether  Judas  himself  did  it  occasionally,  or  deput- 
ed one  of  the  other  priests  to  do  it,  is  not  certain :  perhaps  Ju- 
das might  da  the  duty,  as  being^of  the  chief  family, of  the  priest- 
hood, though  he  did  not  assume  the  title. 

44  Q.    Did  Jonathan  accept  of  these  proposals  ? 

».5.  There  being  no  other  high  priest  in  view,  he  ac- 
cepted it,  by  the  consent  of  all  the  people ;  and  at  the 
feast  of  tabernacles  he  put  on  tli^  holy  robe.  Being  thus 
dignified,  he  joined  with  Alexander,  who  still  grew 
stronger,  and  slew  his  rival  Demetrius  in  battle. 

JVo/s  here,  That  from  this  time  forward  the  high  priesthood 
continued  in  this  family  of  the  Asmoneans,  or  Maccabees,  till 
the  time  of  Herod,  who  changed  it  from  an  office  of  inheritance, 
to  an  arbitrary  appointment. — It  may  be  proper  to  observe  here, 
that  the  family  Avhence  the  Maccabees  came,  are  called  Asmo- 
neans  ;  for  Mattathias,  their  father,  was  the  son  of  John,  the 
son  of  Simon,  the  son  of  Asmoneus. 

45  Q.  But  was  Jonathan  of  the  eldest  family  of  Aa- 
ron, to  whom  the  priesthood  belonged  ? 

J.  Whether  the  Maccabees  or  Asmoneans  were  of 
the  race  of  Josedek  the  high  priest,  is  uncertain,  Ezra 
lii.  2,  but  it  is-  certain  they  were  of  the  course  of  Joarib, 
\\'h\d\  was  of  the  first  class  of  the  sons  of  Aaron.  1 
Mace.  ii.  1 .  1  Chron»  xxiv.  7.  And  therefore,  on  the 
failure  of  the  former  family  of  priests,  and  none  appear- 
ing there  with  a  better  title,  he  had  the  first  right  to  suc- 
ceed ;  besides  that  he  was  chosen  to  it  in  a  vacancy  by  all 
the  people. 

46  ^,     Where  was  Onias  all  this  while  ? 


Sect.  6.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  \7S 

^.  Having  fled  into  Egypt,  lie  gained  such  an  inte- 
rest in  Ptoloujy  Philometer  the  king,  as  to  build  a  Jewish 
temple  in  Egypt,  exactly  like  that  at  Jerusalem,  adorned 
with  the  same  furniture  of  vessels  and  altars  for  incense 
and  sacrifice  ;  and  to  have  himself  and  his  family  estab- 
lished the  high  priests  of  it,  where  they  performed  the 
same  religious  service  as  was  done  at  Jerusalem. 

47  ((.  In  what  part  of  Egypt  did  he  build  this  tem- 
ple ? 

»1.  In  the  place  where  Heliopolis,  or  the  city  of  the 
sun  stood ;  and  there  he  built  a  city  also,  and  called  it 
Onian,  after  his  own  name. 

48  ^.  But  how  did  he  persuade  the  Jews  to  perform 
such  worship  at  this  temple  ? 

J.  By  citing  the  words  of  Isaiah,  chap,  xix.  ver.  18, 
19.  In  that  day  shall  jive  cities  in  the  land  of  Egypt 
speak:  the  language  of  Canaan : — In  that  day  there  shall 
he  an  altar  to  the  Lord  in  the  midst  of  the  land  of 
Egypt,  &'c.  AN'hicli  is  truly  to  be  interpreted  concern- 
ing  the  future  state  of  the  Gospel  in  that  country  in 
the  days  of  the  Messiah;  but  Onias  applied  it  to  his  own 
temple  and  altar. 

49  ({,    How  long  did  this  temple  continue  B 

Ji.  Till  after  the  destruction  of  the  temple  at  Jeru- 
salem, which  was  above  two  hundred  years  ;  and  then 
the  city  Onian,  and  the  temple,  were  both  destroyed  by 
the  command  of  Vespasian  the  emperor  of  Rome. 

50  ({.  Did  Jonathan  go  on  to  secure  the  Jews  of  Ju- 
dea  in  tlieir  possessions  and  their  religion  ? 

Jl.  By  making  leagues  with  the  princes  and  states 
that  favoured  him,  and  by  assisting  sometimes  one  and 
-ometimes  another,  as  the  interest  and  powers  of  prince-^ 
\\  ere  often  changing,  he  defended  and  governed  his  own 
nation. 

51  Q.     ^\hat  became  of  him  at  last  ? 

.'?.  By  the  treachery  of  one  Tryphon,  who  sought  the 
kingdom  of  Syria,  he  was  seized,  and  shut  up  close  pri- 
>oner  in  Ptoleniais,  1  ^Macc.  xi.  and  xii,  and  afterwarJt 
xTas  slain  with  his  two  son«.  chap,  xiii- 


174  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19. 

52  ^.  A¥ho  succeeded  Jonathan  in  the  high  priest- 
hood and  government  ? 

^.  Simon  his  brother,  by  the  request  of  all  the  peo- 
ple ? 

53  Q.  What  were  some  of  the  first  enterprises  of 
Simon  ? 

*3.  After  an  honourable  burial  of  his  brother  at  Mo- 
din,  the  city  of  his  fathers,  ami  the  noble  and  lofty  mon- 
ument, and  seven  pyramids  which  he  set  up  for  his  pa- 
rents, his  four  brethren  and  liimself,  he  fortified  the  cities 
of  Judea,  made  a  league  with  young  Demetrius,  the  son 
of  Demetrius,  took  the  city  of  Gaza,  cleansed  the  houses 
from  idols,  and  built  himself  a  house  there. 

54  Q.  Did  the  garrison  in  the  tower  of  Acra,  near 
the  temple,  continue  to  annoy  the  Jews  in  their  worship. 

w3.  Notwithstanding  all  the  attempts  of  Judas  and 
Jonathan,  these  enemies  remained  still  till  the  days  of 
Simon,  who  shut  them  up  so  closely,  that  after  great 
numbers  perished  with  famine,  the  rest  yielded  up  the 
tower  to  Simon :  immediately  he  cleansed  it  from  its 
pollutions,  and  entered  into  it  M'ith  liarps  and  songs, 
and  great  triumph. 

55  ^.  What  precautions  did  Simon  take  against  the 
like  annoyance  for  the  time  to  come  ? 

Ji^  By  consent  and  assistance  of  the  people,  he  pull- 
ed down  the  tower,  and  reduced  the  mountain  itself  so 
low,  that  there  might  be  no  possibility  of  any  future  an- 
noyance to  the  woiship  of  the  temple  from  that  place. 

56  Q.  What  further  success  had  Simon  in  his  gov- 
ernment? 

^.  He  established  Jerusalem  and  Judea  in  great 
peace  and  plenty ;  he  soudit  out  the  law,  and  made  it 
to  be  obeyed  ;  he  beautified  the  sanctuary,  multiplied  the 
vessels  of  the  tenjple,  and  maintained  their  .eligion  in 
the  divine  institutions  of  it. 

57  Q.  What  peculiar  honour  was  done  him  by  the 
Jews  ? 

A.  In  a  general  assembly  of  the  priests  and  elders, 
and  the  people  of  the  Jews,  met  together  at  Jerusalem, 
he  was  constituted  their  prince  as  well  as  their  high 


Sect  6.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  175 

priest ;  and  these  dignities  and  offices  were  settled  upon 
his  posterity  forever.  This  was  engraven  on  tables  of 
brass,  together  with  the  good  deeds  of  himself  and  his 
family,  which  had  merited  such  an  honour ;  and  these 
tables  were  luing  up  in  the  sanctuary. 

58  Q.  What  regard  was  paid  to  him  among  the 
heithen  nations  .** 

*!/.  Several  princes  and  people,  the  I^acedcmonians, 
the  Romans,  and  Antiochus,  surnamed  Sidetes,  the  son 
of  Demetrius,  king  of  Syria,  all  sought  his  friendship, 
made  leagues  and  covenants  with  him,  and  conferred  on 
him  special  honours.     I  •Mace.  xiv.  and  xv. 

59  Q.     Did  Antiochus  keep  his  covenant  with  Simon  ? 
A,    By  no  means  ;  for  when  he  had  vanquished  Try- 

phon,  his  rival,  he  brake  his  league  with  Simon,  and  in- 
vaded sonu*  part  of  Judea  ;  but  his  j^eneral,  Cendebeus, 
was  routed  by  Simon,  and  his  two  eldest  sons  Judas  and 
.Tohn,  whose  surname  was  Hyrcanus. 

60  ^.     Wiiat  was  the  fate  of  Simon  at  last  ? 

^.  When  Simon  was  visiting  the  cities,  and  giving 
orders  for  their  welfare,  one  Ptolemeus,  who  was  his  son- 
in-law,  invited  him  and  his  sons  to  a  banquet  at  Jericho, 
and  slew  Simon  with  two  of  his  sons,  in  order  to  get  the 
government  of  the  country  into  his  own  hands  ;  and  sent 
privately  to  kill  John  also. 

61  ^.  Did  Ptolemeus  succeed  in  this  his  treachery 
and  murderous  enterprise? 

*9.  John  having  got  timely  notice  of  it  slew  the  assas- 
sins, and  was  invested  with  the  high  priesthood,  and  tlie 
government  after  his  father. 

Note.  Here  ends  that  excellent  history,  the  6rst  book  of  the 
Maccabees.  The  following  part  of  this  account  of  the  Jews  is 
borrowed  chiefly  from  Josephus,  who  usually  calls  John  by  the 
surname  of  Hyrcanus. 


376  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19. 


Sect.  VII.  Of  the  Jewish  Affairfi  under  the  Conduct 
of  the  Posteritif  and  Successors  of  Simon  the  Mac^ 
cabee  ;  and  of  the  several  Sects  among  the  Jews, 
nameli/y  Pharisees,  Sadducees,  Essenes,  HerpdianSy 
Karaites. 

1  Q.    Did  John  Hyrcanus  enjoy  his  office  in  peace  ? 
,3,     Antiochus  Sidetes  being  informed  of  the  death 

of  Simon,  and  being  invited  by  Ptolemeus,  invaded  Ju- 
dea  again,  besieged  Jerusalem,  and  reduced  H}Tcanus 
and  the  Jews  to  the  last  extremity  by  famine  ;  but  when 
they  sued  for  peace,  he  granted  it,  upon  condition  of 
paying  certain  tributes  to  the  king,  and  demolishing  the 
fortifications  of  Jerusalem. 

J^ote.  About  this  time  Jesus,  the  son  of  Syrach,  a  Jew  of 
Jerusalem,  coming  into  Egypt,  translated  the  book  of  Ecclesi- 
asticus,  written  by  Jesus  his  grandfather,  out  of  Hebrew  into 
Greek,  for  the  use  of  the  Hellenistic  Jews  there.  The  ancients 
called  it  Panareton^  or  the  treasury  of  all  virtue. 

2  Q.  How  did  the  affairs  of  the  Jews  succeed  under 
Hyrcanus  ? 

^.  A  few  years  afterwards  he  took  advantage  of  the 
vast  confusions  that  ensued  among  the  nations,  upon  the 
death  of  Antiochus,  to  enlarge  his  borders,  by  seizing  some 
neiglibouring  towns  on  several  sides  of  Judea,  and  to  re- 
nounce all  his  dependence  upon  the  kings  of  Syria. 

3  Q.    Was  he  supported  therein  by  any  foreign  pow- 


ers 


d.  He  renewed  the  league  of  friendship  which  his 
father  Simon  had  made  with  the  Romans,  who  were  then 
growing  to  their  grandeur;  and  they  ordered  that  lie 
should  be  freed  from  the  late  imposed  tribute,  and  that 
the  Syrians  should  make  reparation  for  the  damages  they 
had  done  him. 

4  Q.  In  what  manner  did  Hyrcanus  deal  with  the 
Edomites,  or  Idumeans,  who  were  on  the  south  of  Judea  ? 

A,  He  constrained  them  to  embrace  the  Jewish  reli- 
gion, or  to  leave  their  country ;  whereupon  they  chose 
to  forsake  their  idolatry,  and  became  proselytes  to  Juda- 


,  ct.  7.  SCRIPTURE  HIS 

-in,  and  were  mingled  and  incorpora^ 
and,  by  this  means,  in  less  tlian  two  hui 
very  name  was  lost. 

Note.  In  defence  of  this  practice  of  iryrcanus,  amonj'^e 
Idumeans,  which  seems  to  be  so  contrary  to  the  laws  of  nature 
and  Scripture,  it  ma^-  be  said,  that  at  this  time  these  Edomites 
had  encroached  on  the  land  of  Judca,  and  inhabited  all  the 
foutH  part  of  it :  so  that  Hyrcanu?,  in  banishing  those  who 
would  not  become  Jews,  did  but  rii.«po?sess  them  of  that  coun- 
try which  was  given  to  tlie  Jews  by  God  himself.  Yet  it  must 
be  confessed,  by  this  practice  he  seems  to  have  set  an  unhappy 
pattern  to  his  successors,  to  impose  the  religion  of  the  Jews  on 
conquered  countries  by  force. 

5  Q.  How  did  he  treat  the  Samaritans  on  the  north, 
when  his  power  was  tlius  increased  r 

A.  He  marched  with  his  army  and  took  Shechem, 
which  was  then  the  chief  seat  of  the  Samaritan  sect; 
and  he  destroyed  their  temple  on  Mount  Gerrizira,  which 
Sanballat  had  built ;  though  tliey  continued  still  to  keep 
an  altar  there,  and  to  offer  sacrifices. 

G  Q.  How  came  Shechem  to  be  their  chief  seat,  in- 
stead of  Samaria  ? 

A.  The  J  >Yt:re  expelled  from  Samaria  by  Alexander, 
for  killing  one  of  his  deputy  governors  m  a  tumult; 
and  they  retiring  to  Shechem,  made  that  their  chief  seat ; 
while  Alexander  repeopled  Samaria  with  heatliens  of  the 
Syrian  and  Macedonian  race: 

7  ^.  Did  Hyrcanus  extend  his  power  farther  on  tliat 
side  of  the  country  ? 

A.  He  besieged  Samaria  and  took  it,  and  utterly  de- 
molished it ;  he  not  only  ruled  in  Judea,  but  in  Galilee 
also,  and  the  neighbouring  towns :  he  became  one  of  the 
most  considerable  princes  of  his  age,  and  preserved  the 
Jewish  church  and  state  in  safety  from  their  enemies, 
throughout  a  long  government. 

8  ^.  What  other  remarkable  actions  are  ascribed  to 
Hyrcanus? 

A.  He  was  esteemed  a  prophet  for  one  or  two  nota- 
ble predictions,  or  knowledge  of  things  done  at  a  dis- 
tance. He  built  the  castle  Hans,  on  a  steep  rock,  fifty 
cubits  higli,  without  tlie  outer  square  of  the  temple,  but 


ITS  SCRIPTURE   HISTORY.       Chap.  19. 

on  the  same  mountain :  this  was  the  palace  of  the  Asmo- 
nean  princes  in  Jerusalem,  and  here  the  sacred  robes  of 
the  high  priest  were  always  laid  up  when  they  were  not 
in  use. 

9  (^.    What  use  was  afterwards  made  of  this  castle  ? 
».i.     Herod  new  built  it,  and  made  it  a  very  strong 

fortress,  to  command  both  the  city  and  the  temple  ;  and 
called  it  Antonia,  in  honour  of  his  great  friend  Mark 
Antony  of  Rome  :  he  raised  it  so  high,  that  he  might  see 
what  was  done  in  the  temple,  and  send  his  soldiers  in 
case  of  any  tumult.  Here  the  Romans  kept  a  strong 
garrison,  and  the  governor  of  it  was  called  captain  of 
the  femjile.    Jlctsxxi,  51, 

J^oie.  It  was  from  this  place  the  sentinel  sp3'ing  the  Jews 
ready  to  kill  Paul,  gave  notice  to  the  governor  or  chief  captain, 
who  went  down  irnmediatelj  with  some  soldiers  into  the  court 
of  the  Gentiles,  whither  they  had  dragged  St.  Paul,  to  kill  him, 
and  rescued  him,  and  brought  him  up  the  stairs  into  this  castle ; 
and  it  was  upon  these  stairs  that  Paul  obtained  leave  to  speak 
to  the  people,     A.cis  xxi.  26,  &c. 

10  Q.  What  troubles  did  Hyrcanus  meet  with  to- 
ward the  end  of  his  life  ? 

Ji.  His  title  to  the  high  priesthood  was  unjustly  call- 
ed in  question  by  a  bold  man  among  the  Pharisees  ;  and, 
being  craftily  imposed  upon  to  think  it  the  opinion  of 
all  that  part}^  he  hastily  renounced  that  sect,  for  whicli 
he  had  before  the  greatest  value,  he  abolished  tlieir  con- 
stitutions, and  falling  in  with  the  sect  of  the  Sadducees, 
lost  his  esteem  and  love  among  the  common  people. 

1 1  Q.  Since  you  mention  the  sect  of  the  Pharisees 
here,  pray  let  us  know  what  were  the  chief  sects  among 
the  Jews  ? 

»^.  About  this  time,  the  most  considerable  sects  were 
the  Pharisees,  the  Sadducees,  and  the  Essenes ;  though 
in  the  next  century  arose  also  tlie  Herodians  ;  and  some 
Imndreds  of  years  after  was  a  sect  called  the  Karaites. 

12  Q.  What  peculiar  opinions  were  held  by  the 
Pharisees  ? 

A,  The  most  distinguishing  character  of  this  sect, 
was  their  zeal  for  the  traditions  of  the  elders;  for  while 


Sect.r.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  179 

they  acknowledged  the  writing  of  Moses  and  the  pro- 
phets to  be  divine,  they  pretended  that  these  traditions 
also  were  delivered  to  Moses  on  Mount  Sinai ;  and  con- 
veyed down  without  writing,  through  the  several  genera- 
tions of  the  Jews,  from  father  to  son  :  and  by  reason  of 
their  pretences  to  a  more  strict  and  rigorous  observance 
of  the  law,  according  to  their  traditions,  which  they  su- 
peradded to  it,  they  looked  on  themselves  as  more  holy 
tlian  other  men,  and  they  were  called  Pharisees,  that 
is,  persons  separate  from  others. 

JVo/e.  These  were  the  person*  who  had  so  much  corrupted 
the  law  in  our  Saviour^'s  time,  and  made  it  void  by  their  tradi- 
tions :  yet  their  doctrine  generally  prevailed  among  the  scribe? 
and  the  lawyers,  who  were  writers  and  explainers  of  the  law ; 
and  the  bulk  of  the  common  people  had  them  in  hi^h  esteem 
and  veneration,  so  that  they  were  the  most  numerous  of  anv 
-ect. 

13  O.    Is  the  sect  of  the  Pharisees  still  in  being  ? 

•3.  The  present  religion  of  tiie  Jews,  in  their  several 
dispersions  (except  among  the  few  Karaites)  is  wholly 
formed  and  practised  according  to  the  traditions  of  the 
Pharisees, rather  than  according  to  the  law  and  prophets: 
so  that  they  have  corrupted  the  old  Jewish  religion  in 
the  same  manner  that  the  papists  have  the  Christian. 

14  ^.     What  were  the  opinions  of  the  Sadducees? 
Ji,     Tlie  Sadducees  at  first  are  supposed  by  Dr.  Pri- 

deaux  to  be  no  more  than  the  Zadikim,  w  ho  only  stuck 
to  the  written  word  of  God,  renouncing  all  other  tra- 
ditions ;  and  that  probably  they  went  no  farther  than 
this  in  the  days  of  Ilyrcanus ;  though  the  talmudical 
writers  derive  their  name,  and  their  dangerous  doctrines, 
more  early,  from  one  Zadok,  as  is  before  related.  But 
it  is  certain  that  afterward  the  Sadducees  denied  the 
resurrection  of  the  dead,  and  the  very  being  of  angels  or 
spirits,  or  souls  of  men  departed,  and  any  existence  in  a 
future  state  :  they  supposed  God  to  be  the  only  spirit, 
and  that  he  rewarded  and  punished  mankind  in  this 
world  only,  and  there  was  notliing  to  be  hoped  or  feared 
after  doatFi ;  which  principles  render  this  sect  an  imi)i(»u» 
I't'  men. 


180  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19. 

15  Q.  What  did  they  profess  as  the  rule  of  their 
religion  ? 

nd.  They  not  only  rejected  all  WTitten  traditions,  but 
all  the  written  word  of  God,  except  the  five  books  of 
Moses  ;  for  the  doctrine  of  a  future  state  is  not  so  evi- 
dently taught  therein :  and  therefore  Christ  argues  not 
with  them  out  of  the  Psalms  and  prophets,  but  only  out 
of  the  law  of  Moses,  when  he  proves  a  future  state  T)f 
resurrection  from  God's  being  the  God  of  Mraham, 
Isaac,  and  Jacob.    Luke  xx.  37. 

16  Q.  How  long  did  this  sect  of  the  Sadducees  con- 
tinue ? 

Ji,  Though  all  the  common  people  had  the  chief  ven- 
eration for  the  Pharisees,  yet  most  of  the  richest  and  the 
greatest  among  them  fell  into  the  opinions  of  the  Saddu- 
cees for  several  generations,  but  they  were  all  cut  off  in 
the  destruction  of  Jerusalem ;  nor  do  we  find  any  men- 
tion of  them  as  a  sect  for  many  ages  after,  till  their 
name  was  revived  and  applied  to  the  Karaites  by  way 
of  reproach. 

17  Q.     Who  were  these -K*ar«ifes  .^ 

^.  A  much  better  sect  among  the  Jews,  who  in  the 
sixth  century  after  Christ,  began  to  be  so  much  offended 
with  the  incredible  stories  and  foolenes  of  the  Talmud, 
which  was  then  published,  and  with  the  strange  mystical 
senses  which  some  of  the  Jews  put  on  the  Scriptures, 
that  they  confined  themselves  only  to  the  written  word 
of  the  Scripture,  which  in  the  Babylonish  language  is 
called  Kara  ;  and  for  the  most  part,  they  content  them- 
selves with  the  literal  sense  of  it.  They  are  sometimes, 
but  very  unjustly,  called  Sadducees,  by  the  rabbinical  or 
tulmudical  Jews. 

18  Q.     Where  are  these  Karaites  to  be  found  } 

Ji.  Very  few  of  them  dwell  in  these  western  parts  of 
the  world.  They  are  found  chiefly  in  Poland,  and  among 
the  Crim  Tartars  ;  a  few  also  in  Egypt  and  Persia.  But 
they  are  counted  men  of  the  best  learning,  and  greatest 
probity  and  virtue  among  the  Jews ;  and  it  is  remarkable 
among  them,  that  they  perform  their  public  worship  in 
the  language  of  the  country  where  they  dwell. 


V(t.  r  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  181 

19  Q.     What  were  the  ^ss^n^s  ? 

J.  They  seem  to  have  been  oria^nally  of  the  same 
r^ect  as  the  Pharisees  ;  but  they  set  up  for  a  more  morti- 
fied way  of  living,  and  perhaps  more  unblameable.  They 
so  far  agreed  with  the  Sadducees,  as  to  acknowledge  or 
expect  no  resurrection  of  the  body  ;  but  they  believed  a 
future  state  of  eternal  happiness  or  misery ;  according 
to  their  behaviour  in  this  life.  They  seem  to  have  been 
distributed  into  societies  or  fraternities,  and  to  have  had 
no  piivate  possessions,  but  a  common  stock  for  the  supply 
of  all.  Tliey  were  in  a  special  manner  religious  towarci 
God,  both  on  the  sabbath,  and  in  their  daily  devotions ; 
and  exceeding  friendly  and  benevolent  toward  men. 
They  did  not  disclaim  marriage  ;  but  they  entered  into 
that  state  more  rarely,  and  with  great  caution :  and  in- 
stead of  children  of  their  own,  they  bred  up  poor  chil- 
dven  in  their  own  sect.  They  were  very  abstemious  as 
to  their  food,  and  their  habit  was  a  plain  white  garment. 
Tlieir  rules  of  life  are  reported  to  us  more  at  large  by 
Joseplius  and  by  Philo,  two  Jews  ;  they  are  also  describ- 
ed by  Pliny,  a  heatlien,  and  by  some  of  the  Christian* 
fathers. 

20  ^.  If  they  were  a  considerable  sect  in  the  days 
ol'  our  Saviour,  how  came  it  to  pass  that  they  are  not 
mentioned  in  the  New  Testament  ? 

Ji.     Some  have  supposed  that  they  seldom  came  into 

cities,  but  living  so  very  plain  and  abstemious  a  lif©,thev 

resided  for  the  most  pitrt  iu  the  country  ;  and  thus  they 

fell  not  under  our  Savioui-'s  observation.     And  iK^sides, 

they  being  a  very  holiest  and  sincere  sort  of  people,  they 

gave  no  such  reason  fur  reproof  and  censure,  as  others 

very  justly  deserved.    Though  it  must  be  confessed  also, 

that  their  disbelief  of  the  resurrection  of  tlie  bodv,  their 

non-attendance  on  the  temple-worship,  their  traditional 

washings,  arul   self-invented   [)urifications,  their  rigorous 

an<l  needless  abstinences  from  bomo  sorts  of  meats,  and 

her  like  suj)erstitious  customs  and  will-worship  might 

ive  given  our  Saviour  just  occasion  for  repro«)f  had 

.ey  come  in  his  way ;  and  perhaps  they  are  censured 


182  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19. 

under  the  general  name  of  Pharisees,  in  those  supersti- 
tious traditions  wherein  they  both  agreed. 

21  Q.  Now  we  are  spealting  of  the  several  sects  of 
the  Jews,  let  us  know  also  what  were  the  Herodians  ? 

J.  This  sect  arose  not  till  the  time  of  Herod  the 
great,  king  of  Judea :  and  it  is  plain  they  had  pecu- 
liar evil  tenets  as  well  as  the  other  sects,  since  our  Sa- 
viour warned  his  disciples  against  the  leaven  of  the  Phari- 
sees and  of  Herod.  Indeed  they  opposed  the  Pharisees, 
and  very  justly,  in  one  point;  for  the  Pharisees  scarce 
thought  it  lawful  to  pay  taxes  directly  to  heathens,  though 
they  acquired  the  sovereign  power,  and  particularly  to 
Csesar,  in  that  day  :  but  their  special  error,  which  Christ 
calls  their  leaven,  seems  to  be  this  ;  that  it  was  lawful, 
when  constrained  by  superiors,  to  comply  with  idolatry, 
and  with  a  false  religion.  Herod  seems  to  have  framed 
this  sect  on  pui-pose  to  justify  himself  in  this  practice  ; 
who  being  an  Idumean  by  nation,  was  indeed  half  a  Jew 
and  half  a  heathen ;  and  aft'ected  a  conformity  to  the 
Gentiles  in  some  things,  to  please  the  Romans,  who  made 
him  king,  while  at  the  same  time  he  professed  Judaism. 

JVo/e.  The  Sadducees  generally  came  into  this  complaisant 
opinion  :  and  the  same  persons  which  are  called  Herodians  in 
Mark  viii.  15,  are  called  Sadducees  in  Matt.  xvi.  6.  But  this 
sect  died  in  a  little  time,  for  we  hear  no  more  of  them  after  the 
days  of  our  Saviour.  ^ 

22  Q.  Having  done  with  the  several  sects  of  the 
Jews,  let  us  return  now  and  inquire  who  succeeded 
Hyrcanus  at  his  death? 

J.  Aristobulus,  liis  eldest  son,  took  the  office  of  the 
high  priest,  and  governor  of  the  country ;  and  he  was 
the  first,  since  the  captivity  of  Babylon,  who  ])ut  a  dia- 
dem upon  his  head,  and  assumed  the  title  of  king. 

23  Q.     What  is  recorded  of  him  ? 

Ji.  He  put  his  own  mother  to  death,  because  she 
made  some  pretence  to  the  government ;  he  sent  all  his 
brothers,  save  one,  to  prison ;  then  he  attacked  and  sub- 
dued the  Ilureans,  who  lived  on  the  nortli-east  of  tl)e 
land  of  Galilee,  and  forced  them  to  be  circuuicised  and 
receive  the  Jewish  religion.     At  la^t'heMas  j^ersuadcd 


Sect.  r.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  183 

to  put  his  favourite  brother  to  death,  upon  an  unjust  sus- 
picion ;  and  then  he  died  himself,  vomiting  blood,  and 
m  great  horror,  for  his  crimes. 

24  O.     Who  succeeded  him  ? 

•^.  His  next  brother,  Alexander,  surnamed  Jannieus, 
took  the  kins;dom,  wlio  also  put  another  of  the  brothers 
to  death,  because  of  some  attempt  to  supplant  him. 

£5  q.  What  success  had  Alexander  m  his  govern- 
ment r 

•^.  He  having  settled  his  affairs  at  home,  attacked 
some  of  his  neighbours,  and  dealt  very  deceitfully  with 
Ptolemy  Lathyrus,  the  heir  to  the  crown  of  Egypt,  wlio 
came  to  their  assistance  :  whereupon  there  ensued  a 
bloody  battle  between  them,  near  the  river  Jordan  in 
Galilee,  wherein  Alexander's  army  was  utterly  defeated, 
and  he  lost  thirty  thousand  men.  • 

J^oie.  There  is  a  very  cruel  and  barbarous  action  attributed 
to  Lathyrus  on  this  occasion,  namely,  that  coming  Avith  his  ar- 
my, in  the  evening  after  the  victory,  to  take  up  his  quarters  in 
the  adjoining  villages,  and  finding  them  full  of  women  and  chil- 
dren, he  caused  them  to  be  all  slaughtered,  and  their  bodies  t«,> 
*be  cut  in  pieces,  and  put  into  cauldrons  over  the  fire  to  be  boil- 
ed, as  if  it  were  for  supper ;  that  so  he  might  leave  an  opinion 
in  that  country,  that  his  men  fed  upon  human  flesh,  and  thereb} 
might  create  the  greater  dread  and  terror  of  his  army  through 
all  those  parts.  After  this,  Lathyrus  ranged  at  liberty  all  over 
the  country,  ravaging,  plundering  and  destroying  it  in  a  very 
lamentable  manner:  for  Alexander,  :•(><  r  i\\\^  hnitlo,  was  in  no 
condition  to  resist  him. 

tlG  Q.     Did  Alexander  ever  recover  tins  utlcut  .- 
.].     Cleopatra,  tjueen  of  Egypt,  who,  with  her  young- 
est son,  witlilield  the  kini^dom  from  Lathyrus  her  eldest, 
did  assist  and  support  Alexander  Jaunivus,  lest,  if  Lathy- 
rus shotdd  have  become   master  of  Judea,  he  mii;ht  al?.. 
have    recovered  Ejjypt  out  of  her  hands;    wliereupoi 
Alexander  raised  his  head  again,  besieged   other  place- 
and  took  Gadara  and  Amathus  toward  Galilee,  together 
with  much  treasure;  but  he  was  suq)rised^by  Theodoru> 
piince  of  Philadelphia,  who  had  laid   up  that  treasur. 
tf^ere,  and  was   overthrown  with  the   slaughter  of  tei 
thousand  men.     Vet,  beung  a  man  of  courage  and  dil' 


184  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  19. 

gence,  again  he  recruited  his  army,  took  the  city  of  Gaza 
irom  tlie  Philistines,  and  gave  thorough  license  to  his 
soldiers  there  to  kill,  plunder,  and  destroy  as  tliey  pleas- 
ed. He  subdued  their  principal  cities,  and  made  them 
part  oi  his  dominions  ;  Vvhtreupon  several  of  the  Philis- 
tiij^s  turned  Jews  :  and  indeed  it  was  now  grown  a  cus- 
tom among  the  Asmonean  princes,  to  impose  their  reli- 
gion upon  all  their  conquests,  leaving  them  no  other 
choice  but  to  become  pro.seIytet ,  o!-to  be  banished. 

27  Q.  How  did  Ids  own  people,  the  Jews,  carry  it 
towards  him  ? 

J],  The  Pharisees  continued  their  wrath  against  him, 
for  rigorously  maintaining  the  decrees  of  his  lather,  who 
abolished  their  constitutions ;  and  by  their  powerful  m- 
fiuimce,  they  stirred  up  the  people  against  him  so  far,  that 
while  he  was  executing  the  high  priest's  office  at  the 
altar,  tliey  pelted  hitn  with  citrons,  and  called  him  re- 
proachful names. 

28  Q.    In  v/hat  manner  did  Alexander  resent  it  ? 

J.  He  slew  six  thousand  of  them  immediately,  and 
he  chose  his  own  guards  out  of  the  heathen  nations,  never 
daring  afterwards  to  trust  himself  with  the  Jews.  At 
last  there  broke  out  a  civil  war  between  him  and  his 
people,  which  lasted  six  years,  brought  great  calamity  on 
both,  and  occasioned  the  death  of  above  fifty  thousane^ 
people. 

29  ^.     How  was  this  war  carried  on  ? 

^.  Though  Alexander  gained  many  victories  over 
them,  yet  being  wearied  out,  he  desired  peace,  and  ofter- 
ed  to  grant  them  whatsoever  tliey  could  reasonably  de- 
sire :  but  upon  his  inquiry  what  terms  would  please 
them,*they  answered  with  one  voice,  that  he  should  cut 
Ills  own  throat  /  so  dreadful  was  their  enmity  against 
him  ;  and  upon  this  answer,  the  war  was  still  pursued 
with  fury  on  both  sides. 

30  Q.     How  was  this  war  ended  at  last  ? 

d»  Alexander  Jann?eus,  the  king,  having  lost  one 
great  battle,  resumed  his  courage,  and  afterward  gained 
another,  which  concluded  the  war ;  for  having  cut  oif  the 
greatest  part  of  his  enemies,  he  drove  the  rest  into  the 


^  .  t.  r.  JSCUIPTURE  UlSiORV.  185 

city  of  Bethome,  and  besieged  them  there  :  and  liaving 
taken  the  place,  he  carried  ei^lit  hundred  of  them  to  Je- 
rusalem, and  there  caused  them  to  be  all  crucified  in 
one  day ;  and  their  wives  and  children  to  be  slain  before 
their  faces,  while  they  hung  dying  on  tlieir  crosses.  In 
tiie  mean  time  he  treated  his  wives  and  concubines  with 
this  bloody  spectacle  at  a  feast.  This  terrified  the  Jews 
indeed  so  eftectually,  that  they  made  no  more  insurrec- 
tions against  him  ;  though  he  ^ot  a  most  infamous  name 
by  it,  in  that  and  the  following  ages.  A  dreadful  in 
stance  of  the  barbarity  of  a  high  priest  with  civil  power ! 

31   (?.   I)i('.  this  cruel  tyrant  come  to  a  natural  death  ? 

•^.  The  providence  of  God,  which  does  not  always 
punish  sinners  in  this  life,  permitted  him  to  die  in  the 
camp  of  a  quartan  ague,  which  had  hung  long  upon  him, 
while  lie  was  besieging  a  castle  of  the  Gerasenes  beyond 
Jordan.  And  though  he  left  two  sons  behind  him,  yet 
he  bequeathed  the  government  to  Alexandra  his  wife, 
during  her  life;  and  to  be  disposed  of  at  her  death  to 
which  of  her  sons  she  pleased. 

3^  ^.  How  did  this  woman  reconcile  herself  to  the 
Jews,  so  as  to  permit  her  to  reign  over  them  ? 

Ji.  By  her  husband's  advice  upon  his  death-bed,  she 
concealed  his  death  till  the  castle  was  taken  ;  then  lead- 
ing back  the  armv  to  Jerusalem  in  triumph,  made  her 
court  to  the  Pharisees,  resigned  up  his  dead  corpse  to 
their  pleasure,  to  be  abused  or  buried,  as  they  should 
think  fit,  and  promised  to  follow  their  advice  in  all  the 
affairs  of  government :  ft3r  he  had  assured  her,  that  they 
were  tlic  best  of  friends  and  the  woi  st  of  enemies  ;  and 
that  if  she  would  but  be  ruled  by  them,  they  would  make 
lier  nilc  over  others. 

33  ^.    What  success  had  this  conduct  of  Alexandra? 

Ji.  All  the  success  she  desired  :  the  people  were  in- 
fluenced by  the  Pharisees  to  gi'.e  the  corpse  of  iier  hus- 
band an  honourable  funeral,  s'le  herself  was  settled  in 
the  "[ovcrnmcnt  of  the  nation,  and  she  made  her  eldest 
son  Hyrcarius  hidi  priest 

34  ({.  How  did  she  administer  the  government  under 
the  direction  of  the  Pharisees  ? 


186  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.         Chap.  IP. 

*A.  She  immediately  revoked  the  decree  of  John 
Hyrcanus,  whereby  he  had  abolished  their  traditional 
constitutions;  by  which  means  the  Pharisees,  and  their 
traditions,  grew  into  greater  esteem  and  power  than  ever ; 
and  she  permitted  them  to  put  to  death  many  of  those 
who  advised  the  late  king  Alexander  to  deal  so  cruelly 
with  the  people  ;  and  some  others  of  their  own  adversa- 
jies  also  were  executed  on  this  pretence,  by  her  leave; 
for  she  dreaded  a  new  civil  war,  and  of  two  evils  she 
thought  to  choose  the  least. 

35  Q.  To  whom  did  she  leave  the  kingdom  at  her 
death  ? 

Ji.  To  Hyrcanus  her  eldest  son,  who  had  been  en- 
tireljr  bred  up  under  the  influence  and  tutorage  of  tlie 
Pharisees. 

36  Q.  Did  this  Hyrcajius  the  second  continue  to 
reign  in  peace  ? 

S,  Aristobulus,  the  younger  son,  finding  that  the 
army  and  the  people  were  weary  of  the  oppressive  ad- 
ministration of  the  Pharisees,  raised  an  army  against  his 
brother  Hyrcanus,  put  him  to  flight,  forced  him  to  resign 
the  kingdom  and  the  high  priesthood,  and  to  live  a  private 
life  ;  which  he  consented  to,  after  he  had  been  king  three 
months ;  for  he  naturally  loved  his  own  ease  and  quiet 
more  than  any  thing  else. 

37  Q.    Was  Aristobulus  disturbed  in  his  government  ? 
Ji,    There  was  one  Antipater,  an   Idumean,  (whose 

lather  was  advanced  to  the  government  of  Idumea  by  the 
late  king  Alexander)  and  he  himself  being  bred  up  with 
Hyrcanus,  in  the  court  of  Alexandra,  prevailed  upon 
Hyrcanus  to  accept  of  the  assistance  of  Aretas,  the  Ara- 
bian king,  to  restore  him  to  the  kingdom  ;  for  he  assured 
him  that  his  life  was  in  so  great  danger  from  his  brother 
Aristobulus,  that  he  could  save  it  no  other  way  but 
by  dethroning  him. 

38  Q.  What  success  had  Hyrcanus  in  following  this 
counsel  of  Antipater? 

Jl.  By  the  help  of  Aretas  he  gained  an  absolute  vic- 
tory over  Aristobulus,  drove  him  into  the  mountain  of 
the  tempW,  ami  tlwre  besieged  him ;  where  the  pvie^s 


Sect.  r.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  137 

stootl  by  Aristobulus,  while  tlie  people  declared  for  Hyr- 
canus. 

59  Q.  What  heinous  murder  were  the  people  guilty 
of  at  this  time  ? 

Jl.    There  was  one  Onias  at  Jerusalem,  so  holy  a  man 
that  he  was  tliought  by  his  prayers  to  have  obtained  rain 
from  heaven  in  a  great  drought :  and  the  people  conclud- 
ing that  his  curses  would  be  as  powerful  as  liis  prayers, 
pressed  him  to  curse  Aristobulus,  and  all  that  were  with 
him.     The  good  man  finding  no  rej^t  from  their  impor- 
1  unities,  lift  up  his  hands  toward  heaven  and  prayed 
thus  :  O  Lord  God,  Rector  of  the  universe,  since  tliosc 
that  are  with  us  are  ihif  people,  and  they  that  are  be- 
^   ^^ie,s;ed  in  the  temple  are  thy  jn-iests,  I  pray  that  thou 
'^j^^ouldst  hear  the  prayers  of  neither  of  them  a»'ainst  the, 
^     other.     Hereupon  the  multitmie  were  so  enraged,  that 
they  stoned  him  to  death. 

40  (I.  Did  Hyrcanus's  paity  prosper  after  this  mur- 
der? 

J.  Hyrcanus  and  his  people  fell  under  great  disap- 
pointments at  first ;  for  the  Romans  spreading  their  em- 
pire far  at  this  time,  and  being  largely  bribed  by  Aristo- 
bulus, they  forced  Aretas  tt)  raise  the  siege ;  wliereupon 
Aristobultts  pursued  and  routed  him  in  battle,  and  slew 
multitudes  or  Hvrcanus's  party. 

41  Q.  In  what  manner  was  this  contest  carried  on 
afterwards  ? 

J],  The  two  brothel's  Hyrcanus  and  Aristobulus,  first 
by  their  ambassadors,  and  afterwards  in  pei-son,  pleaded 
tJieir  cause  before  Pompey,  the  general  of  the  Ronians, 
who  was  now  at  Damascus:  while,  at  tlie  same  time, 
tlie  people  declared  against  both:  for  they  pretended 
they  were  not  to  be  governed  by  kings,  but  by  the  priests 
of  God. 

42  Q.    How  was  the  controversy  decided  ^ 

A.  Pompey  not  giving  a  speedy  determination,  and 
Aristobulus  suspecting  the  event,  he  retired  and  prepar- 
ed for  war :  whereupon  Pompey  seized  Aristobulus  in 
one  of  his  castles,  and  confined  him  to  prison,  and  laid 
siege  to  Jerusalem ;  and  being  received  into  the  city  by 


188  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap,  la 

Hyrcanus's  party,  besieged  also  the  temple  and  the  castle 
Baris,and  took  it  in  three  months  time. 

43  Q.  How  came  the  Romans  to  take  so  strong  a 
place  so  soon  ? 

Ji.  Though  the  Jews  had  learnt  from  the  beginning 
of  the  Maccabean  wars,  to  defend  themselves  when  at- 
tacked on  the  sabbath  ;  yet  being  not  actually  assaulted, 
they  permitted  the  Romans  to  build  up  their  works  and 
engines  on  the  sabbath,  without  disturbing  them  ;  where- 
by the  tower  or  castle,  and  with  it  the  temple,  were 
taken. 

44  Q.     On  what  day  was  the  temple  taken  ? 

A.  On  tlie  very  day  which  the  Jews  kept  as  a  solemn 
fast,  for  the  taking  of  Jerusalem  and  the  temple  by  Ne- 
buchadnezzar: and  it  is  remarkable,  that  the  priests  who 
were  at  the  altar  continued  their  devotions,  and  their 
rites  of  worship,  till  they  peiished  by  the  hands  of  the 
enemy. 

45  Q.  What  blood  and  plunder  ensued  in  the  tem- 
ple? 

A.  Twelve  thousand  Jews  were  slain  on  this  occa- 
sion, partly  by  Pompey's  army,  and  partly  by  their  own 
brethren,  oT  the  party  of  Hyrcanus.  But  when  Pompey 
entered  the  sanctuary,  he  forbore  to  touch  any  of  the 
sacred  vessels  thereof,  or  the  two  thousand  talents  which 
were  laid  up  there  for  sacred  uses ;  he  ordered  the 
temple  to  be  cleansed,  and  sacrifices  to  be  offered  there 
according  to  their  own  laws. 

J^ole.  Though  Pompey  was  so  moderate  in  his  victory,  yet 
in  a  little  time  after,  Crassus,  another  Roman  general,  in  his 
march  through  the  country,  seized  and  took  away  those  two 
thousand  talents,  and  the  golden  vessels  of  the  temple,  and  rich 
hangings  of  inestimable  worth.  But  the  vengeance  of  heaven 
seemed  to  follow  him  :  his  counsels  in  his  wars  from  this  time 
forward,  were  under  perpetual  disappointment ;  he  was  slain  in 
a  war  with  the  Parthians  :  his  head  was  cut  off,  and  melted  gold 
was  poured  down  his  throat,  by  way  of  insult  over  his  insatiable 
covetousness. 

46  Q.  What  wa^  the  final  effect  of  this  victory  of 
the  Romans  ? 


Sect.  7.  SCRIFrURE  HISTORY.  1^ 

*^.  Pompey  demolished  the  walls  of  Jerusalem^  put 
to  deatli  some  of  the  cliief  supporters  of  Aristobulus,  re- 
stored Ilyrcaiius  to  the  hij^h  priesthood,  and  made  liiiii 
also  governor,  but  under  tribute  to  the  Romans,  and  re- 
duced his  dominions  to  narrower  bounds  :  then  he  car- 
ried Aristobulus,  witli  his  children,,  prisoners  to  Rome  ; 
except  his  eldest  son,  who  escaped. 

JVole.     From  this  quarrel  between  Hyrcanus  the  second  and 
*  -    '   '  ilug,  tlie   ruin  of  Judea  and  Jerusalem  must  be  dated  ; 
;   loss  of  the  liberty  of  the  Jews,  and  the  translation  of 
•  reign  authority  to  the  Romans  ;  which  had  till  then  de- 
scended with   the  priesthood,  and  been  possessed  by  the  Jews, 
though  often  under  some  tribute  to  heathen  princes. 

47  Q.  Did  Aristobulus  or  his  sons  ever  attempt  the 
recovery  ot*  their  power  and  government  ? 

*!?.  Being  escaped  from  prison  they  made  several 
vigorous  attempts,  but  without  success. 

48  Q.  What  changes  did  Jerusalem  pass  under 
tlirough  these  times  r 

*?.  Gabinius,  a  Roman  general,  marching  through  Ju- 
dea, in  a  little  time  made  a  great  change  in  the  govern- 
ment, lessened  the  power  of  flyrcanus  yet  further,  alter- 
ed the  constitution  of  the  Sanhedrim  or  Jewisli  senate : 
but  all  was  restored  again  shortly  after  by  Julius  Caesar: 
for,  at  Hyrcanus*s  reijuest,  he  gave  him  leave  to  rebuild 
the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  and  by  a  decree  from  the  senate 
of  Rome,  the  ancient  friendship  with  the  Jews  was  re- 
ncweel. 

49  i(.  AVhcre  was  Antipater  all  this  while,  wlio  had 
excited  Ilyvcanus  to  recover  the  government  of  Judea  ? 

»'i.  He  did  many  services  for  Cajsar  in  his  wars  in 
the  neighbouring  countries ;  whereupon  he  was  made 
his  lieutenant  in  Judea,  under  Hyrcanus,  who  was  con- 
firmed by  Ciesar  in  the  government  and  high  priesthood  : 
and,  at  the  same  time,  Antipater  procuretl  rhasael,  his 
eldest  son,  to  be  made  governor  of  the  city  of  Jerusalem ; 
and  Herod,  his  second  son,  governor  of  Judea. 

J^'ote.  This  Herod  grew  tip  to  hi<rh  power  afterward  ;  he  was 
called  Herod  the  great,  and  was  king  of  Judea  when  our  Sii-^ 
\iour  was  born. 


190  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19. 

50  Q.     What  became  of  Antipater  at  last? 

Ji.  He  was  poisoned  by  one  Malichiis,  a  rival,  who 
envied  his  greatness  and  power  in  Judea  :  but  his  death 
was  revenged  bj  his  son  Herod,  who  was  permitted  by 
the  Roman  general  to  procure  Malichus  to  be  murdered. 

51  Q.  What  further  troubles  did  the  Jews  meet 
with  about  this  time  ? 

A.  Some  part  or  other  of  their  nation  were  continu- 
ally subject  to  plunders,  sometimes  from  the  Roman 
generals  for  not  paying  the  tribute  demanded,  or  on  some 
other  pretences  ;  sometimes  by  the  Parthians,  who  assist- 
ed Antigohus,  son  of  the  late  king  Aristobulus,  to  recover 
Jerusalem  and  Judea,  in  opposition  to  the  united  forces 
of  Phasael,  and  Herod,  and  Hyrcanus. 

52  Q.     Did  Antigonus  ever  recover  this  government  ? 
.5.     The  Parthian  general,  Pacorus,  who  was  at  war 

with  the  Romans,  did  by  mere  treachery  get  into  his 
custody  both  Hyrcanus  and  Phasael,  seized  Jerusalem, 
and  rifled  it,  made  Antigonus  governor  of  Judea,  and 
delivered  up  Hyrcanus  and  Phasael  to  him  in  chains  ; 
but  Herod  made  his  escape. 

5S  ({.     What  became  of  Phasael  and  Hyrcanus  ? 

•^.  Phasael  beat  out  his  own  brains  in  prison ;  Hyi- 
canus's  ears  were  cut  off,  that  being  maimed  he  might  be 
no  longer  a  high  priest.  Lev.  xxi.  17,  and  he  was  sent 
afar  off  among  the  Parthians,  that  he  might  raise  no  dis- 
turbances against  Antigonus. 

54  Q.     W  hither  did  Herod  take  his  fliglit  ? 

J,  After  a  little  time  he  went  to  Rome  to  represent 
all  these  transactions,  and  he  made  his  complaints  with 
great  and  unexpected  success  ;  for  Julius  Cresar  being 
slain  in  the  Roman  senate,  Mark  Antony  and  Octavius 
(who  was  afterwards  Augustus  Caesar)  governed  all 
things  there,  and  they  agreed  to  make  Herod  king  of  Ju- 
dea, with  the  consent  of  the  senate,  hoping  Jt  \yould  be 
for  their  interest  in  the  Parthian  war. 


Sect.  8.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  19L 


Sect.  VIII.     Of  the  Government  of  Herod  the  Great, 
and  his  Posterity ,  over  the  Jews. 

1  Q.  What  did  Herod  do  on  his  receiving  this  new 
dignity  ? 

J.  He  returned  to  Judea,  first  relieved  his  mother, 
who  was  put  in  prison  by  Antigonus ;  he  made  himself 
master  ot  Galilee;  he  destroyed  some  large  bands  of 
robbers  which  infested  tlie  country  thereabout,  shelter- 
ing themselves  in  mountains,  and  the  caves  of  steep  and 
craggy  rocks. 

2  Q.  What  artifice  did  he  use  in  order  to  attack, 
them  ? 

Jl.  By  reason  of  their  dwelling  in  such  hollow  caves 
in  precipices,  there  was  no  scalin*  them  from  below ; 
and  therefore  to  ferret  them  out  of  their  dens,  he  made 
large  open  chests,  and  filled  them  with  soldiers,  which 
he  let  down  into  the  entrances  of  those  caves  by  chains 
from  engines  which  he  had  fixed  above,  and  thus  he  de- 
stroyed great  numbers  of  them. 

J^ote.  This  country  was  often  annoyed  with  the  remains  of 
these  plunderers  in  the  reiqn  of  Herod  :  but  he  treated  them 
without  mercy,  and  all  the  country  that  sheltered  them  with 
great  rigour,  till  he  restored  peace  to  Galilee. 

5  Q.     Where  was  his  next  march  ? 

.5.  Into  Judea  against  Antigonus,  and  after  several 
battles,  witli  various  succcjss  on  both  sides,  at  last,  by  the 
assistance  of  the  Roman  legions,  besieged  Antigonus  in 
Jerusalem. 

4  ({.     Did  not  Herml  himself  attend  this  siege  r 

A'  Yes  ;  but  while  the  preparations  were  making  for 
it  he  went  to  Samaria,  ana  there  lie  married  Mariamne, 

lady  of  tlie  family  of  the  Maccabees,  or  Asmoneans, 

I'  iiiand-fiau^l^ter  of  H3axanus  the  second,  a  woman 

it  beauty  and  virtue,  and  admirable  quiNificafions, 

the  Jews  would  more  readily  receive  him   for 

cir  king  by  this  alliance  ;  and  having  done  this,  1"'  n*- 

;rned  to  the  >iegp. 


192  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19. 

5  Q.    Did  he  carry  this  plate  at  last  ? 

Ji,  He  took  Jerusalem  by  storm,  after  six  montlis 
liard  and  bloody  service  in  the  siege,  at  which  the  Ro- 
mans being  enraged,  ravaged  the  city  with  blood  and 
plunder,  notwithstanding  all  that  Herod  could  do  to  pre- 
vent it;  and  having  taken  king  Antigonus  there,  and 
sent  him  to  Antioch,  Herod  persuaded  Mark  Antony, 
by  a  large  bribe,  to  put  him  to  death. 

■  Note.  Here  ended  the  reign  of  the  Asmoneans,  or  Macca- 
bees, after  that  race  had  held  the  government  one  hundred  and 
twenty  years.  During  great  part  of  this  time,  as  well  as  before, 
the  various  changes  of  these  Jewish  governors,  or  the  interrup- 
tion by  heathen  conquerors,  filled  the  country  of  Judea  with  in- 
numerable calamities  and  desolations,  of  which  Jerusalem  itself 
had  a  very  large  share,  nor  did  they  cease  in  the  following  years. 

6  ^.     How  did- Herod  begin  his  reign? 

A.  As  he  was  forced  to  make  his  way  to  the  king- 
dom through  much  blood,  so  he  established  himself  by 
the  same  means,  putting  to  death  several  of  the  partizans 
of  Antigonus,  and  among  them  all  the  counsellors  of  the 
g^ieat  Sanhedrim,  except  Pollio,  who  is  called  Hillel,  and 
feameas,  who  is  called  vShammai ;  for  both  of  them  had 
encouraged  the  city  to  receive  Herod ;  though  it  was 
not  out  of  love  to  him,  but  merely  on  this  view,  that  it 
was  in  vain  to  resist  him. 

Note.  This  Hillel  and  Shammai  were  too  very  great  and 
eminent  teachers  among  the  doctors  of  traditions  in  the  Jewish 

schools. 

7  Q.  Who  was  made  high  priest  after  the  death  of 
Antigonus,  who  was  both  priest  and  king  ^ 

A.  At  first  Herod  made  one  Ananelus  or  Ananus 
i»igh  priest,  who  was  an  obscure  man,  but  of  tlie  house  of 
Aaron,  educated  among  the  Jews  afar  oft'  in  Babyh)nia, 
and  therefore  not  so  likely  to  oppose  any  of  Hcrod*s  de- 
signs in  Judea. 

8  Q.     Did  Ananelus  continue  in  the  high  priesthood  ? 
*5.     Herod's  beloved  wife,  Mariamne,  and  her  mother, 

being  of  the  race   of  the  Maccabees,  were  ever  teasinj^ 
him  to  make  Aristobulus,  Mariamne's  brother^  a  lad  or 


cu  8.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  193 

seventeen  years  old,  high  priest  in  Ananelus's  room,  to 
whom  indeed  it  ratlier  belono:ed  as  an  heir  male  of  that 
family :  tliis  he  at  last  complied  with  against  his  will ; 
but  in  a  very  little  time  he  procured  him  to  be  drowned 
under  pretence  of  bathing. 

9  Q.     What  became  of  Hyrcanus  all  this  while  ? 

J,  Though  he  liad  been  banished  for  so  many  years 
among  the  Parthians  and  Babylonians,  yet  he  returned 
to  Jerusalem  upon  the  advancement  of  Herod,  presuming 
that  the  marriage  of  his  grand-daughter,  ana  his  own 
former  merits  towards  him,  would  secure  to  himself  a 
peaceful  old  age  in  his  own  country  under  Herod*s  pro- 
tection. 

10  O.     How  did  Herod  deal  with  him  ? 

«4.  He  received  him  at  first  with  all  respect,  but 
some  time  after  found  a  pretence  to  put  him  to  death, 
when  he  was  above  eighty  years  of  age,  lest  one  time  or 
other,  bein^  of  the  family  of  the  Maccabees  or  Asmo- 
neans,  he  should  be  restored  to  tiie  kingdom. 

1 1  (I.  Besides  all  these  confusions,  what  other  ca- 
lamity liappened  to  tlie  Jews  about  this  time  ? 

A,  A  terrible  earthquake  ran  through  the  whole  land 
of  Judea,  and  buried  thirty  thousand  of  tlie  inhabitants 
in  the  ruin  of  their  houses,  in  the  seventh  year  of  Herod*s 
reign  ;  a  grievous  pestilence  followed  it  m  a  little  time, 
and  a  desolating  famine  a  very  few  years  after,  at  which 
time  Herod  was  very  liberal  to  the  people,  but  he  could 
not  gain  tlieir  hearty  aftection. 

12  Q.  Did  Herod  maintain  his  government,  when  his 
i;ieat  friend  Mark  Antony  was  ruined,  and  vanquished 
by  Octavius  ? 

,i.  He  took  care  to  make  early  submission  to  Octa- 
vius; he  laid  aside  Ims  diadem  when  he  waited  on  him, 
and  witii  open  heart  he  confessetl  his  former  fiiendship 
for  Aiitory,  but  he  now  assured  Octavius  of  the  santei 
faithful  friend;^hip  and  obedience,  if  he  niidit  be  trusted  : 
upon  which,  Octavius,  who  noAv  assumed  the  name  of 
Augustus  CVsar,  bid  him  resume  his  diadem,  confirmed 
him  in  the  kingdom,  and  was  his  friend  and  protector 
nven  to  his  death. 
18 


194  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19. 

13  Q.  Did  he  then  continue  to  reign  in  perfect 
peace? 

J.  Domestic  troubles  broke  the  peace  of  his  mind, 
and  threw  him  into  violent  grief  and  rage,  which  further 
soured  his  temper  for  all  his  life  after. 

14  Q.     What  were  those  domestic  troubles  ? 

^.  He  was  jealous  lest  any  man  should  possess  so 
great  a  beauty  as  Mariamne  his  queen  after  his  death, 
and  lest  any  remains  of  the  family  of  the  Asmoneans 
should  hinder  the  succession  of  liis  own  family  to  the 
kingdom  of  Judea ;  and  for  these  reasons  he  gave  private 
orders,  that  in  case  he  died,  both  his  wife  and  her  mother 
should  be  put  to  death :  which  dreadful  secret  being 
communicated  to  his  queen,  she  resented  it  to  such  a 
degree,  that  she  would  never  afterwards  receive  him; 
but  notwithstanding  all  his  kind  addresses  and  importu- 
nities she  perpetually  followed  him  with  sharp  re- 
proaches for  the  murder  of  her  relations,  by  which  he 
secured  the  crown  to  himself,  and  upbraided  his  mother 
and  sister  with  the  meanness  of  their  parentage.  So  that 
between  his  excess  of  love  and  rage  and  jealousy,  he 
•was  so  tormented,  and  so  wrought  upon  by  the  artifices 
of  his  mother  and  sister  Salome,  that  at  last  he  put  his 
beloved  Mariamne  to  death,  under  a  pretence  of  an  at- 
tempt 4o  poison  him,  and  he  executed  her  mother  too  a 
little  after  the  daughter,  for  a  real  plot  against  his  life. 

15  Q.  Did  the  death  of  Mariamne  relieve  him  from 
this  tumult  of  passion  ? 

A.  By  no  means ;  for  now  his  love  returned  with 
violence,  and  his  grief  and  vexation  joined  with  other 
passions  to  render  him  a  most  miserable  wretch,  a  tor- 
ment to  himself,  and  outrageous  to  all  about  him. 

16  Q.     What  course  of  life  did  he  follow  afterward? 

A.  He  grew  more  arbitrary  and  cruel  in  his  govern- 
ment ;  he  put  what  persons  lie  pleased  into  the  hidh 
priesthood,  and  turned  them  out  again  at  pleasure  :  he 
made  several  innovations  in  the  laws,  customs,  and  re- 
ligion of  the  Jevv  s  ;  and  introduced  spectacles  of  wrest- 
lers, of  combats  between  wild  beasts  and  criminals,  &g. 
in  conformity  to  the  heathens;  pretending  it  was  all 


Sect  8.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  193 

necessary  to  please  Caesar :  anJ  thus  set  the  hearts  of 
the  Jews  mucli  more  against  him,  who  were  very  jealous 
of  their  religion  and  customs.  Then,  thinking  it  needful 
for  his  defence,  as  well  as  for  his  grandeur  and  glory,  he 
built  several  strong  places  and  towers  within  and  with- 
out Jerusalem ;  he  raised  temples  in  several  cities,  and 
dedicated  them  to  Ceesar,  who  was  his  great  friend; 
and  though  sometimes  he  remitted  part  of  tne  taxes,  and 
did  several  beneficent  actions  to  ingratiate  himself  with 
the  people,  it  was  all  in  vain ;  he  could  not  obtain  their 
love. 

17  Q.  What  was  his  greatest  and  most  considerable 
attempt  to  please  tlie  people,  and  to  perpetuate  his  own 
name? 

Ji.  He  proposes  to  rebuild  the  temple  at  Jerusalem  : 
for  it  having  now  stood  near  five  hundred  years,  and  be- 
ing so  often  injured,  broken  and  repaired,  he  persuaded 
tlie  people  that  a  new  one  should  be  built  with  much 
more  magnificence  and  glory. 

18  <^.  But  could  he  persuade  the  Jews  to  consent 
that  their  temple  should  be  demolished,  in  order  to  re- 
build it  ? 

Ji.  Not  till  he  had  assured  them  that  the  old  temple 
should  remain  untouched  till  all  materials  were  ready  to 
build  the  new  one  ;  which  he  actually  provided  at  vast 
expense  and  labour  in  two  years  time,  by  employing  ten 
thousand  artificers  for  the  work,  a  thousand  wagons  for 
carriage,  and  a  tliousand  pi*iests  for  direction. 

19  ^.  Did  he  fulfil  his  promise  in  building  this  new- 
temple  ? 

Ji,  Yes ;  be  performed  the  work  with  prodigious  cost 
and  splendour,  as  it  is  described  by  Josephus :  it  was 
built  of  large  stones,  each  twenty- five  cubits  long,  twelve 
cubits  broad,  and  eiglit  in  thickness,  which  the  disciples 
desired  our  Saviour  to  take  notice  of  with  wonder. 
Mark  xiii.  1,  2.  The  sanctuary,  that  is,  the  holy  place, 
and  the  most  holy,  which  were  more  properly  called  the 
temple,  were  finished  in  a  year  and  a  half,  so^at  divine 
worship  was  performed  there  ;  and  in  eiiit  years  more 


we  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY,       Chap.  ig. 

he  completed  the  several  walls,  and  galleries,  and  pillars, 
and  courts,  according  to  his  design, 

20  Q.  How  could  it  be  said  then,  John  ii.  20,  Forty> 
and  six  years  was  the  temple  in  building  ? 

Ji.  it  was  begun  near  forty-six  years  before  that 
pass-over,  when  our  Saviour,  being  near  thirty-one  years 
old,  was  present  at  Jerusalem  ;  and  though  the  grand 
design  and  plan  was  executed  in  nine  years  and  a  half, 
yet  Ilerod  and  his  successors  were  always  building  out- 
works round  it,  or  adding  new  ornaments  to  it,  even  to 
that  very  day  when  Christ  was  there  and  long  afterward* 

21  Q.    When  was  it  dedicated  ? 

..?.  The  same  year  when  it  was  finished,  and  on  the- 
anniversary-day  of  Herod's  accession  to  the  crown,  and 
on  this  account  it  was  celebrated  with  a  vast  number  of 
sacrifices  and  universal  rejoicing.. 

J^ote.  Within  four  years  after  this  dedication,  Jesus  Christ 
our  Saviour  was  born,  and  was  presented  there  an  infant,  ac- 
cording to  the  law. 

22  Q.    Was  not  this  then  the  third  temple  of  the  Jews? 
»5.     No ;  it  was  called  the  second  temple  still,  because 

though  it  was  built  anew  from  the  foundations,  yet  it 
was  only  by  way  of  reparation,  it  not  having  been  rased 
and  demolished  with  a  ruinous  design,  nor  did  it  lie  in 
ashes  and  desolation,  as  it  did  when  Nebuchadnezzar 
destroyed  it. 

23  ^.  Did  Herod  do  any  thing  after  this  in  favour 
of  the  Jews  ? 

J.  When  the  Jews  who  were  scattered  throughout 
Greece  and  Asia  Minor  grew  very  numerous,,  and  were 
mucli  disturbed  and  oppressed  by  the  other  inhabitants, 
Herod  procured  tor  them  a  new  establishment  of  their 
liberties  and  privileges,  and  permission  to  live  in  other 
countries,  according  to  their  own  laws  and  religion, 
which  had  been  granted  them  before  by  the  kings  of 
Syria  and  by  the  Romans. 

24  ({.  What  further  troubles  did  Herod  meet  with 
in  his  family  ? 

A,  His  two  eldest  sons  by  Mariamne,  namely,  Aris- 
tobulus  and  Axander,  whom  he  had  sent  to  Rome  for 


Sect  8.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  197 

education*  being  returned  to  Jerusalem  in  the  heat  of 
their  youth,  they  frequently  expressed  their  resentments 
for  the  death  of  their  mother,  and  thereby  they  became 
obnoxious  to  the  rage  of  Salome,  Herod's  sister  and  fa- 
vourite :  and  thus  she,  who  had  been  one  great  and  con- 
stant instrument  to  blow  the  coals  of  jealousy  and  dis- 
content between  Herod  and  his  queen,  and  at  last  to 
occasion  her  death,  pursued  the  same  course  to  make 
liim  jealous  of  some  designs  of  his  sons  against  his  life  ? 

25  Q.     What  issue  had  these  quarrels  and  jealousies? 

A*  They  continued  several  years;  plots  were  invent- 
ed on  both  sides :  these  gave  Herod  in  his  old  age  per- 
petual disquietudes,  suspicions  and  fears :  but  Salome 
nis  sister  prevailed  so  tar  by  her  craft  against  his  two 
sons,  that  after  many  accusations  and  acquitments  of 
them,  she  at  last  procured  their  condemnation  and  exe- 
cution by  Herod's  order  and  the  consent  of  Augustus 
Cft-sar.  This  was  about  a  year  or  two  before  the  birth, 
of  Christ. 

26  ^.  What  was  the  general  state  of  the  heathen 
world  atmut  this  time  ? 

J.  All  the  known  parts  of  the  world  were  subdued 
to  the  Romans,  and  tiie  nations  were  in  peace ;  on  which 
account  the  temple  of  Janus  was  shut  up  at  Rome,  whicb 
had  never  been  shut  but  five  times  since  the  first  building^ 
of  that  city;  and  then  Jesus  Christ  the  Prince  of  peace 
came  into  the  world  and  was  born  at  Bethlehem. 

27  Q.  Wherein  does  it  appear  that  the  world  was 
thus  all  at  quiet  under  the  government  or  dominion  of  tlie 
Romans  ? 

►i.  Augustus  Caesar^  the  emperor  of  Rome,  issued 
out  a  decree  tliat  year  for  a  general  register  of  his  whole 
empire,  which  St.  Luke  calls  a  tajcin^,^r  enrolling  of 
all  the  world,  Luke  ii,  1.  This  brought  Mary  the  mother 
of  Christ  to  Bethlehem,  the  city  of  David,  to  which  fam- 
ily she  belonged  ;  and  while  she  was  there,  she  brought 
forth  her  son  Jesus,  as- it  is  written,  Luke  ii.  1 — IK 

Kotc.     This  year,  in  which  Christ  was  born,  according  to 
bishop  Usher^s  exact  cornputation,  is  the  four  thousandth  year 
from  the  creation  ;  which  faljs  in  with,  an  old  traditioa  of  tho 
18* 


198  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19. 

Jews,  that  the  world  was  to  last  six  thousand  years  ;  namely, 
two  thousand  years  before  the  law,  (or  before  Abraham,  who 
was  the  father  of  circumcision  and  the  JeAvs;)  and  two  thou- 
sand under  the  law ;  that  is,  from  Abraham  to  the  Messiah  ; 
and  two  thousand  under  the  Messiah. 

And  here  I  might  conclude  this  chapter,  having  brought  the 
JeAvnsh  affairs  down  to  the  birth  of  Christ.  But  it  may  give 
some  light  to  the  New  Testament  to  carry  it  on  a  little  farther. 

28  Q.  What  piece  of  cruelty  was  Herod  guilty  of, 
when  he  heard  that  a  child  was  born,  who  was  to  be 
king  of  the  Jews  ? 

Ji.  He  slew  all  the  young  children  in  Bethlehem, 
that  he  might  be  sure  to  destroy  Christ,  and  that  his  own 
posterity  might  be  kings  of  Judea. 

29  Q.  Whom  did  Herod  design  then  for  the  succes- 
sor to  his  kingdom  ? 

J.  Antipater,  his  eldest  son  by  Doris,  a  wife  which 
Herwl  had  before  Mariamne ;  his  father  had  raised  him 
to  some  post  of  honour  upon  his  displeasure  with  his 
other  sons,  and  he  liad  been  also  active  and  busy  himself 
towards  procuring  the  death  of  those  two  brothers. 

30  Q.  Did  Antipater  succeed  his  father  in  the  king- 
dom, according  to  Herod's  present  design  ? 

•B.  Antipater  longing  for  the  crown  and  for  his  fath- 
er's death,  did  really  conspire  to  poison  him,  and  being- 
convicted  thereof,  had  a  sentence  of  condemnation  pass- 
ed upon  him  :  and  it  being  confirmed  by  Augustus  Ctesar, 
was  executed  by  his  father's  approbation.  Tliis  was  the 
third  son  whom  Herod  put  to  death. 

51  Q.     When  and  in  what  manner  Aid  Herod  die  ? 

J.  In  tlie  seventieth  year  of  his  age,  and  five  days 
after  the  execution  of  his  son  Antipater,  Herod  himself 
died  by  a  dreadful  complication  of  diseases.  He  had  a 
slow  fever,  an  asthma,  an  ulcer  in  his  bowels  and  his 
lower  parts,  which  bred  worms  and  lice  ;  he  languished 
under  extreme  pain  and  torment  till  he  expired,  and 
seems  to  have  been  smitten  of  God  in  a  signal  and 
terrible  manner  for  his  cruelty,  and  the  multiplied  in- 
iquities  of  his  whole  life. 

32  q.  What  instance  of  cruelty  was  he  guilty  of 
even  at  his  death  ? 


Sect.  8.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  19^ 

A,  Knowing  how  much  he  was  hated  of  the  Jews,  he 
concluded  there  would  be  no  lamentation  for  him,  but 
rather  rejoicing  when  he  died  ;  and  to  prevent  this,  he 
framed  a  project,  one  of  the  most  horrid  tliat  could  en- 
t€r  into  the  heart  of  man  ;  he  summoned  all  the  chief 
Jews  over  the  whole  kingdom  on  pain  of  deatli  to  appear 
at  Jericho,  where  he  then  lay  ;  he  shut  them  up  piison- 
ers  in  the  circus,  oi*  public  place  of  shews,  he  ordered 
and  adjured  his  sister  Salome  and  her  husband,  who 
were  his  chief  confidents,  to  send  in  soldiers  as  soon 
;i«  he  was  dead,  and  put  them  all  to  the  sword ;  Fur  this, 

id  he,  will  jii'ovide  mourners  for  my  funeral  all  the 
.and  over. 

33  ^.  Was  this  bai-barous  and  bloody  command  ex- 
ecuted) 

.3.  His  sister  Salome,  as  bad  as  she  was,  cliose  rather 
to  break  her  oath  to  him  than  to  execute  so  horrid  a  de- 
sign, and  therefore  she  released  them  all  after  his  death. 

34  ^.     What  posteiity  did  Herod  leave  behind  him  ? 
A.     He  had  nine  wives,  and  such  of  his  posterity  as 

are  najned  in  Scripture,  are  these  that  follow,  namely, 
Archelaus  his  son,  who  succeeded  him  in  the  kingdom  of 
Judea  and  Samaria,  *Matt.  ii.  22 ;  Herotl  Antipas,  te- 
trarch  or  governor  of  Galilee,  wlio  cut  oft'  John  tlie  bap- 
tist's head,..Vrti^  xiv.  1,  3,  6;  Philip,  governor  of  Iturea 
and  Toachonitis,  Luke  iii.  1;  and  Herod  Philip,  who 
married  his  own  neice,  Herotlias,  and  had  a  da»?ghter  by 
her  called  Salome,  who  danced  well :  but  Herodias  after- 
ward left  him,  to  marry  Herod  Antipas  his  brother,  for 
which  John  tlie  baptist  reproved  this  Herod  Antipas. 
Luke  iii.  19. 

Tliis  Herodias  was  daughter  of  Herod*s  son  Aristobu- 
lus,  whom  he  put  to  deatli,  and  sister  of  Herod  Agrippa, 
who  slew  the  apostle  James,  Jcfs  xii.  1,2,  and  was  af- 
terwards smitt^'n  of  God,  at  Ciesarea.  ver.  20 — 23.  Of 
this  Hei-od  Agrippa  was  born,  that  king  Agrippa  tlie  se- 
cond, before  whom  Paul  pleaded  his  cause,  Jicta  xxv.  and 
xxvi.  and  his  two  sisters  were,  Drusilla,  wife  to  Felix  the 
governor,  Jicts  xxiv,  24,  and  Iknuce,  who  attended  her 


200  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  19. 

brother  Agrippa  to  hear  Paul  plead.     This  genealogy  is 
borrowed  from  Dr.  Prideaux. 

35  Q.  Did  Archelaus  continue  long  in  his  govern- 
ment? 

.5.  He  was  guilty  of  many  and  great  instances  of 
tyranny,  for  which  he  was  deposed,  and  banished  to  a 
town  in  France  by  the  Roman  emperor,  when  he  had 
reigned  in  Judea  between  nine  and  ten  years. 

36  Q.     How  was  Judea  governed  afterwards  ? 

.^.  The  Romans  were  so  much  displeased  with  the 
evil  practices  of  Archelaus,  that  they  reduced  Judea  to 
the  form  of  a  Roman  province,  and  ruled  it  afterwards 
by  procurators  or  governors,  who  were  sent  thither,  and 
recalled  at  their  pleasure  :  the  power  of  life  and  death 
was  taken  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Jews,  and  placed  in 
the  Roman  governor,  and  their  taxes  were  paid  more  di- 
rectly to  the  Roman  emperor,  and  gathered  by  the  pub- 
licans. 

37  Q.     How  did  the  Jews  resent  this  ? 

»9.  The  Pharisees,  and  the  people  under  their  influ- 
ence, thought  it  unlawful  to  acknowledge  a  king  who^ 
was  not  a  Jew.  Deut,  xvii.'15.  From  among  thy  brethren 
shalt  thou  set  a  king  over  thee :  and  therefore,  though 
they  were  constrained  to  pay  tribute  to  Csesar,  yet  they 
scarce  allowed  it  to  be  lawful ;  upon  this  account  they 
looked  upon  these  publicans  with  greater  detestation 
than  any  of  the  tax-gatherers  in  former  ages,  while  their 
governor  was  of  the  Jewish  nation  or  religion. 

JVb/e.  Though  Herod  was  an  Idumean  by  nation,  yet  all  the 
Idumeans  having  received  the  Jewish  rehgion,  Herod  Avas  so  far 
counted  a  lawful  governor,  as  that  they  did  not  scruple  paying 
taxes  to  him. 

38  Q.  How  was  the  high  priesthood  carried  on  at 
this  time  ? 

*S.  As  Heroil  had  done  before,  so  the  Roman  govern- 
ors continued  to  make  high  priests,  and  to  depose  them 
as  often  as  they  pleased,  to  answer  their  own  purposes. 

39  Q.  Who  was  iiigh  priest  when  our  blessed  Savioup 
was  put  to  death  ? 


Sect  8.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  201 

Ji,  Caiaphas,  trho  was  son-in-law  to  Annas,  who  had 
been  liimself  high  priest  for  fifteen  years,  and  was  de- 
posed bj  one  of  their  governors. 

Note.  Caiaphas  was  not  iinniediale  successor  to  Annas,  for 
there  were  three  high  priests  carae  between  them,  who  hacT 
been  instituted  in  that  office,  and  deposed  by  tjK'  Romans : 
Hence  it  may  come  to  pasp,  that  in  the  history  of  the  Gospels 
we  frequently  read  of  several  chief  priests  at  the  tame  time, 
and  of  Annas  and  Caiaphas  being  high  priests  at  the  beginning 
of  John  the  baptisfs  mini^^lry.  Lukt  iii.  2.  For  >vliether  they 
had  any  concurring  power  givt  n  them  by  the  Romans  or  no, 
yet  being  ?tDl  alive,  after  they  had  been  in  tKat  office,  they 
might  have  their  title  give  n  them  by  the  peoi»le,  and  some  of 
them  had  probably'  coiisiderable  influence  in  the  Jewiish  affairs. 
In  tiie  case  of  Annas  and  Caiaphas,  some  suppose  one  to  have 
been  head  of  the  Sanhedrim,  and  to  have  chielly  managed  in 
civil  affairs,  the  other  in  sacred.  Others  fancy  one  to  have 
been  the  high  priest,  and  the  other  the  deputy  high  prieat,  or 
Sa^an^  .  '  .  Iways  ready  to  perform  the  office,  if  the  high 

priest  ^  ed  or  hindered.     And  some  think  they  might 

rule  all'- .--,.,  tr  together,  by  permiskjon,  or  appointment  of 

the  RomauF.     It  is  evident  the  sacred  }aw9  of  Moses  were  not 
strictly  observed  at  that  time  among  them,  nor  long  before. 

Xott.  This  Annas  is  supposed  to  be  the  same  person  with 
tliat  Ananiu.o,  whoai  Paul  did  not  seem  to  acknowledge  for 
God's  high  priest,  when  he  reproved  him,  and  called  him,  Thou 
tchilcd    wall.     Actt  xxiii.  3 — 5. 

40  (^.     Who  was  governor  of  Jutlea  at  tliat  time  ? 

Ji.  Pontius  Pilate :  for  Tiberius  C?esar  (who  had 
reigned  two  or  three  years  togetlier  \\itli  Augustus  at 
Uomej  and  had  after  liis  death  succeeded  him  now  nine- 
teen yeai-s  in  the  empire)  liad  a  few  years  before  made 
this  Pilate  governor :  lie  was  a  man  thoroughly  prepared 
for  all  manner  of  inic|uity,  which  he  executetl  throu^i 
his  whole  government ;  and  gave  further  proof  of  it  in 
tliat  unjust  sentence,  which  lie  passed  even  against  his 
own  conscience,  for  the  crucifixion  of  our  blessed  Lord, 
at  the  request  of  tlie  wicked  Jews. 

41  ^.     What  became  of  Pontius  Pilate  at  last? 

A*  He  was  in  a  very  short  time  recalled  by  the  Ro- 
man emperor  for  misdemeanors  in  his  government,  and 


502  SCRIFrURE  HISTOEY.        Chap.  10. 

banished  to  Vienne  in  France,  where  he  is  reported  to 
have  put  an  end  to  his  own  life  by  the  sword. 

42  Q.  Did  the  Jews  grow  wiser  and  better  after- 
wards ? 

Ji.  They  went  on  by  persecution  and  rage  against 
the  Gospel^of  Cinist,  and  t!ie  professors  of  it,  and  by 
many  other  crimes,  to  fill  up  the  measure  of  their  iniqui- 
ties, till  at  last,  upon  their  insurrection  against  the  Ro- 
mans, they  were  exposed  to  the  fury  of  a  conquering 
army,  their  city  and  temple  were  utterly  destroyed,  ac- 
cording to  the  prophecy  of  Christ ;  eleven  hundred  thou- 
sand of  the  people  perished,  and  the  remains  of  their 
nation  have  been  scattered  abroad  through  the  earth 
unto  this  day. 

43  Q.  What  general  remark  may  be  drawn  from  the 
whole  history  of  the  Jews  since  their  return  from  the 
captivity  of  Babylon  ? 

*A,  That  the  affairs  of  their  church  and  of  their  state 
have  been  for  the  most  part  so  unliappy,  they  have  been 
so  much  disquieted  by  the  invasions  and  persecutions  of 
the  kings  of  the  earth,  so  wretchedly  corrupted  with  the 
introduction  of  human  traditions,  rharisaical  supersti- 
tions, and  heathenish  rites  among  them  ;  and  so  frequent- 
ly and  grievously  oppressed  by  their  own  priests  and 
princes,  as  well  as  strangers,  that  they  never  did  enjoy 
so  peaceful,  so  pious,  and  so  flourishing  a  state,  as  to  give 
a  full  accomplishment  of  all  those  glorious  prophecies 
which  relate  to  their  happiness  after  their  return  from 
captivity. 

44  Q.    What  follows  from  this  remark  ? 

A.  That  there  must  be,  in  the  decrees  and  provi- 
dence of  God,  a  further  reserve  of  peace,  holiness  and 
happiness  for  the  seed  of  Israel,  which  shall  be  conferred 
upon  them  in  the  latter  days  :  and  therefore  we  cannot 
but  expect  a  more  large  and  general  conversion  of  the 
Jews  to  the  faith  of  Jesus  the  true  Messiah,  than  hath 
ever  yet  appeared,  with  greater  blessings  upon  that  peo- 
ple who  were  once  so  dear  to  God,  and  are  beloved  for 
their  father's  sake.  St.  Paul,  in  his  eleventh  chapter  to 
the  Romans,  abundantly  confirms  what  the  prophets  en- 
courage us  to  hope  for. 


Chap.  20.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  203 


CHAP.  XX. 

Of  the  Prophecies  which  relate  to  Jesus  Christ  oiir 
Saviour,  and  their  Accomplishment ;  or,  a  Propheti' 
cat  Connection  between  the  Old  and  •^'*ew  Testament, 

INTRODUCTION. 

As  I  have  given  an  Historical  Continuation  of  the 
affairs  of  the  Jews  from  the  time  of  Nehemiah,  where  the 
Old  Testament  ends,  to  the  time  of  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord  ;  so  I  have  here  inserted  a  chapter  of  some  of  the 
plainest  predictions  or  prophecies  which  are  found  in 
the  Old  Testament,  that  relate  to  the  person,  offices  and 
glories  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour,  and  are  ful- 
filled in  the  Gospel :  and  it  may  be  called  A  Prophetical 
Connection  between  the  Old  Testament  and  the  iVew. 

And  because  I  would  not  give  offence  by  introducing 
such  prophecies  as  are  either  much  doubted  or  denied 
by  any  Christians ;  therefore  I  shall  scarce  mention  any 
but  what  some  of  the  writers  of  the  New  Testament 
either  directly  cite,  or  to  which  they  have  a  plain  refer- 
ence in  some  of  their  expressions. 

1  ^.  Since  the  great  subject  of  the  New  Testament 
is  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  his  Gospel,  tell  me  now 
what  arc  the  chief  discoveries  or  representations  made 
of  him  in  the  Old  Testament  ? 

J].  Besides  the  types  or  emblems  of  Christ  and  his 
Gospel,  which  are  found  in  the  Jewish  worsiiip,  there  are 
also  several  plain  expressions  in  the  books  of  the  Old 
Testament,  which  are  predictions  or  prophecies  con- 
cerning him,  long  before  he  came  into  tlie  world.  See 
some  of  the  types  in  chap.  V.  ^.  116. 

2  Q.  What  is  tlie  first  and  earliest  prophecy  of 
Christ? 

A.  Gen,  iii.  15,  where  God  said  to  the  first  wo- 
man, tliat  is,  to  Eve,  that  her  seed  should  bruise  the 
head  of  the  serpent. 


204  SCRIPTURE   HISTORY.       Chap.  20. 

3  Q.     Wlierein  is  this  prophecy  fulfilled  ? 

A,  Gal,  iv.  4,  God  sent  forth  his  Son  made  of  a  wo- 
man. 1  John  iii.  8,  The  Son  of  God  ivas  manifested 
that  he  might  destroy  the  works  of  the  devil  ^  that  is, 
he  should  destroy  the  mischievous  designs  and  deeds  of 
the  devil,  who  lay  hid  in  the  serpent,  when  he  tempted 
Adam  and  Eve  to  sin;  and  this,  in  the  language  of 
prophecy,  is  called,  bruising  the  serpeTtt's  head. 

4  ^.     What  is  the  next  plain  prophecy  of  Christ  ? 
•41.     Gen.  xviii.    18,  ana  xxii.  18,   where  God  tells 

Abraham,  that  in  him  and  his  seed  shall  all  the  na- 
tions  of  the  earth  he  blessed. 

5  Q.  How  does  this  appear  to  have  a  reference  to 
Christ? 

•4.  Gal.  iii.  8,  TJie  Scripture  preacheth  the  Gospel 
unto  Jibraham^  sayings  In  thee  shall  all  nations  be  bless- 
ed $  ver.  16.  JVow  to  Mraham  and  his  seed  were  the 
2Womises  made:  He  saith.  To  thy  seed,  which  is  Christ; 
who  was  to  be  derived  in  a  long  course  of  generations 
from  Abraham,  and  therefore  Christ  may  be  called  the 
Son  of  Abrahamu    Matt.  i.  L 

6  \.  To  whom  was  this  promise  given  besides  Abra- 
ham ? 

Jl.  It  was  given  to  Isaac  the  son  of  Abraham,  Gen. 
xxvi.  4,  and  to  Jacob  his  grandson.  Gen,  xxviii.  \A.  In 
thee  and  in  thy  seed  shall  all  nations  be  blessed. 

7  Q.     Did  Jacob  prophecy  concerning  Christ  ? 

Ji.  Yes,  in  his  dying  speech  to  his  son  Judah,  Gtn. 
xlix.  10.  77ie  sceptre  (or  tribe ^  as  the  word  signifies) 
shall  not  depaH  from  Judah,  nor  a  lawgiver  from  be- 
tween his  feet y  until  Shiloh  come,  and  till  the  gathering 
cf  the  people  be  unto  him. 

8  Q.  How  can  you  prove  that  this  prophecy  relates 
to  Christ'? 

A.  Shiloh  signifies  one  that  is  sent,  which  is  the  fre- 
.<juent  character  of  Christ,  tiiat  he  was  sent  by  the  Father. 
JoJm  X.  36,  &c.  and  xvii.  18,  21,  23.  (And  indeed  the 
Jews  themselves  own  that  it  signifies  the  Messiah.)  Now 
Judah  did  continue  to  be  a  tribe,  and  to  liave  some  sort 
iof  government  amongst  them  till  Christ  came ;  he  was 


Chap.  20.         SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  205 

about  ten  or  twelve  years  old  when  Archelaus  was  de- 
posed, and  Jiidea  reduced  to  the  form  of  a  Roman  prov- 
ince, and  then  the  power  of  life  and  death  was  taken 
from  them.  See  chap.  xix.  Q.  36.  And  wlien  the  people, 
that  is,  the  Jews  and  Gentiles,  were  gathered  in  great 
numbei-s  unto  Christ,  then  the  tribe  of  Judah,  or  the 
Jewish  nation,  was  broken  to  pieces  and  scattered,  Jeru- 
salem was  destroyed,  and  all  appearance  of  government 
among  them  was  lost ;  which  is  an  eftectual  argument 
against  the  Jews  that  their  Messiah  is  already  come. 

9  Q.  Who  was  the  next  person  that  prophesied  con- 
cerning Christ  r 

Ji.  Moses,  in  the  18th  chapter  of  Deut.  ver,  15,  18. 
The  Lord  thif  God  will  raise  up  unto  thee  a  Prophet 
from  the  midst  of  thee,  of  thy  brethren,  like  unto  me, 
and  to  him  shijill  ye  hearken. 

10  Q.  How  does  it  appear  Moses  designed  Jesus 
Christ  in  this  prophecy? 

.3.  St.  Stephen  the  martyr  cites  these  words  in  his 
dyino;-  speech  when  he  was  put  to  death  for  the  sake  of 
Christ,  and  applies  them  to  him.  »^cts  vii.  S7. 

1 1  O.  But  were  not  many  prophets,  as  Isaiah,  Jere- 
miah, Klijah,  Elisha,  and  several  others  like  unto  JVloses? 

vJ.  None  of  them,  beside  Jesus  Christ,  came  to  insti- 
tute a  new  religion,  as  Moses  did ;  or  wrought  such  nu- 
merous and  various  miracles  to  attest  their  doctrine. 

\2  ({.  Who  was  the  next  eminent  propliet  that  spake 
plainly  of  Christ? 

J.  David  speaks  often  of  him  in  his  book  of  Psalms, 
in  many  remarkable  expressions,  and  describes  his  in- 
carnation, his  sufterings,  his  exaltation,  and  his  various 
offices  of  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King,  namely, 

1.  His  coming  into  the  world  to  preach  the  truth  of 
God,  and  tlie  doctrine  of  righteousness,  for  the  salvation 
of  men,  and  the  weakness  and  insufficiency  of  the  Jew- 
ish sacrifices.  Psalm  xl.  6,  7,  8,  Sacrifice  and  offering 
thou  didst  not  desire  ;  that  is,  the  Jewish  sacrifices  were 
not  refjuired  as  real  and  eftectual  expiations,  because 
»hey  could  not  take  away  sin:  but  mine  ears  hast  thou 
veiled:  then  said  I,  Loylcome;.  in  the  volume  of  the 
19 


206  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  *     Chap.  £0. 

hook  it  is  written  of  me  ;  I  delight  to  do  thy  will,  O 
my  God,  1  have  preached  righteousness  in  the  great 
congregation,  I  have  declared  thy  faithfulness  and  thy 
salvation,  &c.  The  first  part  of  this  Psalm  is  expressly 
applied  to  Christ,  Heh.  x.  5,  &c.  and  instead  of  the  words, 
mine  ears  hast  thou  opened,  the  apostle  expresses  it,  a 
body  hast  thou  prepared  me:  and  then  he  goes  on 
to  shew  how  Christ  made  himself  a  perfect  and  effectual 
sacrifice,  instead  of  all  the  imperfect  sacrifices  under 
the  law. 

2.  His  being  chosen  out  of  the  Jewish  nation  to  be 
the  Saviour  and  the  King  of  Israel,  is  foretold  under  the 
emblem  of  David.  Fsalm  Ixxxix.  18,  &c.  Then  thou 
spakest  in  vision  to  thy  Holy  One,  aud  saidst,  I  have 
laid  help  upon  One  that  is  mighty :  I  have  exalted  One 
chosen  out  of  the  people : — I  will  make  him  my  First- 
horn,  higher  than  the  kings  of  the  earth,  &c.  Christ 
is  called  the  First-born  of  the  creation,  and  ^ing  of 
kings*    CoL'i.  15.  Rev,  xix.  16. 

5.  The  children  in  the  temple  singing  his  triumph, 
when  he  entered  into  Jerusalem,  is  early  intimated. 
Fsalm  viii.  2,  Out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and  suck- 
lings  thou  hast  ordained  strength,  or  perfected  praise ; 
and  in  Fsalm  cxviii.  25,  26,  you  have  the  very  words  of 
their  song;  Save  now,  I  beseech  thee,  (which  in  the  He- 
brew is  Hosannah)  O  Lord  /  blessed  is  he  that  cometh 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord  ;  whi(;h  is  applied  to  Christ. 
Matt,  xxi.  9.  And  as  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees  raged 
and  had  indignation  against  him  on  this  account,  so  this 
very  rage  is  intimated  in  th^  same  8th  Fsalm,  ver.  2. 
The  babes  and  sucklings  cried  out,  and  did  still  or  silence 
the  enemy  and  the  avenger,  that  is,  the  revengeful  enemy. 
And  this  is  further  hinted  in  the  11 8th  FsaL  ver.  22,  where 
David  calls  Christ  the  Stone  which  the  builders  refused, 
and  ivhich  is  become  the  head  Stone  of  the  corner :  the 
teachers  and  rulers  of  the  Jews,  who  should  have  been 
the  builders  of  tlie  church,  rejected  Christ,  and  on  this 
occasion  he  applies  these  words  to  himself,  J/«^if.  xxi.  42, 
and  they  are  applied  to  him  by  tlie  apostles  Paul  and 


Chap.  20.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  207 

Peter,  Eph,  ii.  20,  Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief 
Corner-stone  ;  and  1  Pet.  ii.  7,  The  Stone  which  the 
builderft  disallowed,  is  made  the  Head  of  the  corner. 

4.  His  persecution  by  princes  and  people  is  declared 
in  Psalm  ii.  1.  fVhif  do  the  heathen  rage,  and  the  people 
imagine  a  vain  thing'/  The  Icings  of  Ihe  earth  set  them- 
selves, and  the  rulers  take  counsel  togpther  against  the 
Lord,  and  against  his  Anointed,  that  is,  against  his 
Messiah  or  Christ ;  which  was  cited  and  fulfilled,  Acts 
iv.  26,  27,  when  Herod  and  Pontius  Pilate,  and  the  peo- 
ple, both  Gentiles  and  Jews,  all  rose  up  against  Jesus 
of  Nazareth,  and  put  him  to  death. 

5.  His  bitter  reproaches  and  sufferings,  and  the  man- 
ner of  his  death,  is  foretold  by  David  in  the  22d  and 
69th  Psalms.  In  the  beginning  of  the  22d  Psalm, 
David,  by  way  of  emblem,  in  propliecy  speaks  the  words 
of  Christ  upon  the  cross.  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast 
thou  forsaken  me?  ver.  16, 18,  They  pierced  my  hands 
and  my  feet ;  they  parted  my  garments  among  them, 
and  cast  lots  upon  my  vesture :  and  that  he  was  Brought 
down  to  the  dust  of  death,  ver.  15.  All  these  things 
were  fulfilled  when  they  nailed  his  hands  and  feet  to  a 
cross,  wlien  thev  cast  lots  for  his  garments,  and  slew 
him.  Jfatt.  xxvii.  55, 46.  John  xix.  25,  24. 

His  reproaches  and  his  cruel  treatment  are  described 
farther.  Psalm  Ixix.  20,  21.  Reproach  hath  broken  mv 
heart ;  I  am  full  of  heaviness:  they  gave  me  also  gall 
for  my  meat:  in  my  thirst  they  gave  me  vinegar  to  drink. 
Matt,  xxvii.  48. 

6.  His  resurrection  from  the  dead.  Psalm  xvi.  10, 
For  thou  tcilt  not  leave  my  soul  in  hell,  tliat  is,  in 
the  stiite  of  the  dead,  neither  wilt  thou  suffer  thine  Holy 
One  to  see  corruption,  that  is,  to  lie  long  enough  in  the 
grave  to  be  subject  to  rottenness:  Thou  wilt  shew  me  the 
path  of  life.  Now  this  was  evidently  fulfilled  in  Christ 
at  his  rising  from  the  dead  to  life  again  before  he  had 
lain  three  complete  days.  *9cts  ii.  31,  and  xiii.  33 — 38  ; 
1  Cor.  XV.  4. 

7.  His  ascension  to  heaven  attended  with  angels,  hi^ 
tnumph  over  tlie  devils,  his  receiving  gifts  from  the  fatli* 


208  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  2C^ 

er,  and  his  distribution  of  them  to  men,  are  foretold  in 
Fsalm  Ixviii.  17,  18.  The  chariots  of  God  are  twenty 
thousand,  even  thousands  of  angels^  the  Lord  is  among 
them.  Thou  hast  ascended  on  high,  thou  hast  led  cap- 
tivltif  captive^  thou  hast  received  gifts  for  men  ;  yea, 
for  the  rebellious  also,  that  the  Lord  God  might  dwell 
among  them.  Which  words  are  applied  to  our  Saviour 
being  ascended  to  heaven,  and  having  led  the  devils  cap- 
tive, and  bestowed  gifts  on  men,  namely,  prophets,  apos- 
tles, &c.  for  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel,  that  God  might 
dwell  among  men,  who  before  were  rebellious  against 
him.  Eph.  iv.  8.  See  also  Col.  ii.  15,  lie  spoiled  princi- 
palities  and  powers,  and  triumphed  over  them. 

8.  His  exaltation  to  the  kingdom  at  God's  right  hand, 
and  to  the  priesthood  of  intercession,  is  described  par- 
ticularly. Psalm  ex.  1,  4.  The  Lord  said  unto  my  Lord, 
sit  thou  at  my  right  hand  till  I  make  thy  enemies  thy 
footstool:  and,  thou  art  a  Priest  for  ever  after  the  or- 
der of  MelchisedeJc ;  which  expressions  are  applied  to 
Christ,  Matt.  xxii.  42,  44,  Jlcts  ii.  23,  &c.  Heh.  v,  6,  and 
ch,  vii.  2, 3, 17,  where  Christ  is  exalted  to  be  a  King  and 
M  Priest  as  ISIeldiisedek  was,  and  that  too,  a  Priest  of 
constant  intercession  or  pleading  with  God  for  men,  and 
ble^ing  them,  as  Melchisedek  blessed  Abraham. 

9.  The  character  of  this  King  is  described  in  several 
Psalms ;  as  in  Psalm  xlv.  6,  7.  Thy  throne,  O  God,  is 
forever  and  ever;  the  sceptre  of  thy  kingdom  is  n 
right  sceptre :  thou  lovest  righteousness,  and  hatest 
wickedness :  therefore  God,  thy  God,  hath  anointed  thee 
with  the  oil  of  gladness  above  thy  fellows :  wliich  is  a 
plain  description  of  Jesus  Christ,  Heb.  i.  8,  9,  whom  God 
anointed  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  power,  ^cfs  x. 
38,  and  who  had  the  Holy  Spirit  without  measure.  John 
iii.  34.  And  yet  further,  in  Psalm  Ixxii.  is  a  large  cliar- 
acter  of  Christ  under  the  emblem  of  Solomon  :  and 
Psalm  Ixxxix.  describes  Christ  under  the  character  of 
David  himself. 

10.  In  the  second  Psalm,  his  resurrection  and  exalta- 
tion are  described  under  the  distinct  and  peculiar  char- 
acter of  the  Son  of  God:  ver.  6,  7, 1  have  set  my  King 
upon  my  holy  hill  of  Zion :  and  I  will  declare  the  c?e- 


Cnap.  20.       SCRIPTUBE  HISTORY.  ^209 

cree:  thou  art  my  Soiit  this  day  have  I  begotten  thee : 
which  is  cited  to  prove  the  resurrection  and  advance- 
ment of  Christ  to  the  throne  by  tlie  power  of  the 
Father,  and  as  the  image  of  the  Father.  He  was 
fii-st  the  King  of  iiion  or  Israel,  as  God  is  King  of 
his  church,  Acts  xiii.  SS,  Heh.  v.  5,  and  he  is  now  also 
I^ord  of  the  heathen,  and  King  of  all  nations,  as  God  is 
King  or  Ruler  of  all  the  world.  The  8th  verse  particular- 
ly declares  tiie  submission  of  the  heathens  to  Christ,  af- 
ter he  begun  his  work  of  intercession  in  heaven  :  Ask  of 
7ne,  and  1  shall  give  thee  the  heathen  for  thine  inheri- 
tance, and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  thy  pos- 
session. The  next  words  also,  namely,  thou  shalt  break 
them  with  a  rod  of  iron,  and  dash  them  in  pieces  like  a 
patterns  vessel,  are  applied  to  Christ,  Rev.  ii.  27,  and 
foretel  his  power,  and  vengeance  against  his  enemies. 

Jiote  1.  In  fomr  of  these  Pf^alms  we  should  not  have  known 
Christ  or  the  Messiah  was  intended,  if  Christ  himself  or  the 
apostles  had  not  cited  them  for  this  puqjose  ;  yet  some  of  them 
are  so  evident,  that  the  ancient  Jews  applied  tliem  to  the  Mes- 
siah ;  and  we  cannot  but  apply  them  to  him,  because  they 
could  not  be  applied  to  David,  or  to  any  other  person. 

JVo/e  2.  There  might  be  also  many  other  texts  cited  out  of 
the  book  of  Psalm?,  which  are  interpreted  concerning:  Jesus 
Christ  in  the  !Vew  Testament,  which  we  should  not  otherwise 
have  known  to  belong  to  him ;  as  Psalm  xcvii.  7.  Worship  him 
all  ye  gods;  which  is  applied  to  him  in  Heb.  i.  6.  Ltt  all  the  o7t- 
^tls  of  God  worship  him^  who  in  Scripture  are  sometimes  called 
gods.  So  Psalm  cii.  25 — 27,  are  applied  in  the  same  chapter 
to  Christ,  and  shew  us  that  the  world  was  created  by  him ; 
Thoxi^  Lord^  in  the  beginning  hast  laid  the  foundations  of  the 
earthy  and  the  heavens  are  the  work  of  thy  hands,,  &.c.  In  both 
which  texts,  as  well  as  in  several  otiiers,  the  very  same  names, 
characters,  and  actions,  which  are  attributed  to  Jehovah,  the 
God  of  the  Jews,  the  only  true  God,  in  the  Old  Testament,  are 
applied  to  Jesus  Christ  in"^the  New:  which  plainly  advances  his 
character  so  high,  a«  to  assure  us,  that  he  is  one  with  the  father  0 
that  he  is  God  manifested  in  the  flesh,,  whose  name  is  EmxAsW- 
XL,  or  God  with  tu  ;  as  we  shall  leani  immediately  from  Isaiah 
the  prophet. 

13  ({.     We  have  heard  various  and  express  prophe- 
les  which  David  gave  concerning  the  Messiali  ;_and  did 
'>t  Solomon  also  prophecy  of  Christ  ? 
19* 


210  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  20. 

^.  Many  Christians,  in  elder  and  later  times,  have 
supposed  that  the  eighth  chapter  of  Solomon's  Proverbs 
speaks  of  Christ  in  his  divine  nature,  under  the  character 
of  wisdom. 

JVo/e.  Some  of  the  ancient  fathers  suppose  wisdom  in  this 
chapter,  to  denote  Jesus  Christ ;  some  think  it  means  the  Holy 
Spirit :  But  other  writers  question  whether  there  be  any  such 
full  and  sufficient  proof  of  either  of  these  opinions  in  the  New 
Testament,  as  to  write  them  down  with  assurance.  Athanasius 
sometimes  explains  it  of  Christ's  human  nature.  And  on  these 
accounts  Dr.  Patrick  himself  doubts,  whether  this  be  a  prophe- 
cy of  Clu-ist,  or  no  ;  or  whether  it  only  relates  to  divine  and 
human  wisdom. 

14  Q.  But  did  not  Solomon  write  the  Song  of  Songs : 
and  is  not  Christ  there  foretold  as  the  bridegroom  and 
husband  of  the  church  ? 

Ji,  The  metaphors  and  similitudes  of  the  same  kind 
which  are  used  in  the  45th  Psalm,  and  in  some  of  the 
Epistles,  and  the  book  of  the  Revelations,  have  generally 
persuaded  our  Christian  expositors  to  apply  this  song  to 
the  spiritual  characters  and  transactions  of  Christ  and 
his  church  :  but  tl\e  expressions  are  so  much  borrowed 
from  the  affairs  of  a  human  love,  that  they  hardly  afford 
such  sufficient  argument  for  the  proof  of  the  Messiah  as 
more  evident  and  direct  prophecies,  which  is  my  present 
chief  business ;  nor  indeed  do  I  know  that  the  If^ew  Tes- 
tament cites  any  of  Solomon's  writings  as  prophecies  olt' 
Christ. 

15  Q.  Which  is  the  next  of  the  prophets  which  speak 
of  Christ,  as  they  stand  in  order  in  our  Bible  ? 

Jl.  Isaiah,  who  was  called  the  evangelical  or  Gospel 
prophet,  because  he  foretels  the  greatest  variety  of  events 
that  relate  to   him,  namely, 

,  1.  That  he  shall  be  born  of  a  virgin.  Isa,  vii.  14,  ^ 
ifirgin  shall  conceive  and  bear  a  sa?i,  ajid  shall  call  his 
name  Emmanuel ;  which  was  explained  and  accomplish- 
ed when  the  virgin  Mary  brought  forth  her  son  Jesus* 
Matt,  i.  20 — 23.  The  name  Emmanuel  signifies  God 
with  us, 
2»    That  he  shall  be  of  the  family  of  Jesse  or  David, 


Chap.  20.         SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  ^11- 

who  shall  be  king  of  Israel ;  that  his  name  si  will  be 
the  mighty  God y  and  his  kingdom  shall  stand  tor  ever. 
Isa.  xi.  10,  In  that  day  there  shall  be  a  root  of  Jesse, 
which  shall  stand  for  an  ensign  of  the  people:  to  it  shoU 
the  Gentiles  seek.  Isa,  ix.  6,  7,  IJnto  us  a  child  is  born  ; 
unto  us  a  son  is  given  ;  the  government  shall  be  upon 
his  shoulders,  and  his  name  shall  be  called  IVonderful, 
Counsellor,  the  mighty  God,  Vie  everlasting  Father,  the 
Prince  of  peace.  "^  Of  the  increase  of  his  government 
and  peace  there  shall  be  no  end  :  upon  the  throne  of  Da- 
vid, and  upon  his  kingdom,  to  order  it  and  to  establish 
it  with  judgment  and  justice,  from  henceforth  even  for 
ever. 

3.     And  yet  tliat  he  should  be  rejected  by  many  of 
the  Jews,  and  sliould  be  received  by  the  Gentiles.  Isa. 
viii.  14,  He  shall  be  for  a  Sanctuary;  that  is,  a  Refuge  for 
mankind  :  but  for  a  Stone  of  stumbling,  and  Rock  of  of- 
fence to  both  the  houses  of  Israel ;  that  is  both  to  Judah 
and  Benjamin  who  made  up  the  Jewish  nation  ;  or  to  the 
two  kingdoms  both  of  Juuah  and  Israel,  as  they  were 
distinguished  in  former  times.    Now  this  text  is  applied 
to  Christ.  Rom.  ix.  33.  1  Fet.  U.S.     His  rejection  by  the 
Jews  is  foretold  also  in  Isa.  liii.  1,  2,  3.     JFho  hath  be- 
lieved, <Jy*c.     But  that  the  Gentiles  shall  receive  him  for 
a  Saviour  and  a  King,  Isaiah  toretels  in  many  places;  as 
chap.  xlix.  6,  7,  He  shall  be  a  Light  to  the  Gentiles,  and 
Salvation  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.     To  him  whom  man 
despiseth,  to  him  whom  the  nation  abhorreth,  that  is  tlie 
nation    of   the   Jews,    kings    shall  look    and    arise ; 
princes  also  shall  worship.    Which  must  refer  to  the 
kings  of  the  heathens,  for  the  Jews  had  then  no  kings 
who  worshipped  him.     Jsa.  xlii.  1,6,   Behold  my  Ser- 
vant whom  J  have  chosen,  mine  Elect,  in  whom  my  soul 
delighteth;   I  have  put  my  Spirit  upon  him,  he  shall 
bring  forth  judgment  to  the  G^itiles.    The  same  is  re- 
peated in  several  other  chapters,  Isa.  liii.  10,  and  Iv.  4, 
".     And  speaking  of  the  Jews  who  rejected  Christ,  he 
;iith  in  chap.  xlv.  15,  Ye  shall  leave  your  name  for  a 
nrse  to  my  chosen,  for  the  Lord  God  shall  slay  thee^ 
■nd shall  call  his  servants  hy  another  name.    The  iianie 


212  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  20. 

of  a  Jew  is  become  like  a  word  of  reproach  or  curse 
among  the  Christians,  who  now  are  the  servants  of  God. 

4.  That  he  shall  be  full  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  of  wis- 
dom, and  knowledge,  and  piety,  justice  and  goodness. 
Isa.  xi.  ],  9,  *^nd  there  shall  come  forth  a  Mod  out  of 
the  stem  of  Jesse,  and  a  Branch  shall  s^rotv  out  of  his 
roots  ;  and  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  shall  rest  upon  him, 
the  spirit  of  wisdom  and  understanding,  and  the  spiyit 
of  counsel  and  might,  the  spirit  of  knoivledge,  and  of 
the  fear  of  the  Lord,  This  is  fulfilled  in  John  iii.  34. 
He  whom  God  hath  sent,  sjteaketh  the  word  of  God  ; 
for  God  giveth  not  the  Spirit  unto  him  by  measure.  Col. 
iii.  3,  In-  him  are  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and 
knowledge.    John  \.  3:3,    The  Spirit  abode  upon  him-. 

5.  His  commission  for  the  ministry,  or  preaching  the 
Gospel,  is  also  described  by  this  prophet ;  that  he  should 
pronounce  terror  to  the  wicked,  and  peace  to  the  meek 
and  humble  and  penitent.  Isa.  xi.  4,  He  shall  smite  the 
earth  with  the  rod  of  his  mouth,  with  the  breath  of  his 
tips  he  shall  slay  the  wicked.  Isa,  Ixi.  1 — 3,  The  Spirit 
of  the  Lord  God  is  upon  me ;  because  the  Lord  hath 
anointed  me  to  preach  good  tidings  unto  the  meek,  he  hath 
sent  me  to  bind  up  the  broken-hearted,  to  proclaim  lib' 
erty  to  the  captives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison  to 
them  that  are  bound  ;  to  proclaim  the  acceptable  year 
of  the  Lord,  and  the  day  of  vengeance  of  our  God;  to 
comfort  all  that  mourn,  <J*c.  Which  was  evidently  ful- 
filled in  Jesus  Christ,  when  he  published  pardon  oi  sin, 
and  everlasting  life  to  those  that  repent  and  believe  in 
him  ;  and  pronounced  the  pvinishm£nts  of  hell  upon  the 
impenitent;  and  our  Saviour  particularly  applies  this 
prophecy  to  himself,  Luke  iv.  18 — 21. 

6.  That  he  shall  work  miracles  of  heaHng  when  he 
comes  to  be  a  Saviour.  Isa.  xxxv.  4,  Behold  your  God 
ivill  come  and  save  you  ;  then  the  eyes  of  the  blind  shall 
be  opened,  and  the  ears  of  the  deaf  shall  be  unstopped; 
then  shall  the  lame  man  leap  as  an  hart,  and  the  tongue 
of  the  dumb  shall  sing  :  which  was  fulfilled  when  our 
Saviour  wrought  these  miracles,  not  only  on  other  occa- 
sions, but  more  eminently  in  the  sight  of  the  disciples  of 


Chap.  20.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  21S 

John  the  baptist,  who  came  to  learn  whether  he  were  the 
Christ  or  no.  Matt.  xi.  2 — 6.  And  our  Saviour  proves  it 
bv  his  miracles  before  their  eyes. 

"7.  That  he  should  have  a  forerunner  to  prepare  his 
way  in  the  wilderness.  Isa.\\.  3,  The  voice  of  him  that 
crieth  in  the  wilderness,  prepare  tje  the  way  of  the 
Lord  ;  make  straight  in  the  desert  *«  his;h-w:ti/  for  our 
God  :  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shall  be  revealed,  and 
all  fesh  shall  see  it  together :  that  is,  the  dory  of  the 
Lord  shall  be  made  visible  to  fleshly  eyes  by  dwelling 
bodily  or  in  the  bo<lv  of  Jesus  Christ,  when  God  shall 
manifest  himself  in  'the  flesh.  1  Tim.  iii.  13.  And  John 
the  baptist  was  his  forerunner  in  the  wilderness  of  Ju- 
dah.  »Vrtf^i^i.  1,  2,  3. 

8.  The  sufferings  of  Christ  also,  and  his  meekness 
and  patience  under  the  contempt,  reproaches  and  perse- 
cution he  met  with  at  his  death,  as  an  atonement  for  sin  ; 
his  being;  numbered  among  vile  sinnei"s ;  Ids  burial  with 
the  riclf;  his  resurrection,  exaltation,  and  intercession  ; 
are  all  spoken  of  in  that  admirable  chapter,  Isa.  53d, 
which  I  desire  my  readers  to  peruse  m  this  place ;  for 
tlie  whole  of  it  is  expressed  in  language  so  exceeding 

iiin,  that  it  seems  sufficient  to  convince  any  honest  in- 

;»'l  or  heathen  ;  and  it  did  actually  convince  that  wild 
and  atheistical  nobleman  the  earl  of  Rochester,  in  the 
last  age,  of  the  truth  of  the  Gospel,  when  he  compared 
these  words  of  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah  with  the  24th, 
and  following  chapters  of  the  Gospel  of  St.  Matthew  ; 
and  he  became  a  Christian  penitent. 

16  ^.     Did  Jeremiah  prophecy  concerning  Christ? 

A.  Yes ;  in  a  few  places  of  his  nropliccv.  Jer.  ii.  35, 
36,  Behold  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lonf,  that  I  will 
raise  unto  David  a  righteous  Branch  ;  and  a  King  shall 
reign  and  prosjier,  and  e.vecute  Judgment  and  justice  in 
the  earth.  In  his  days  Judah  shall  he  saved,  and  Israel 
shall  dwell  safely  ;  aiidthis  is  his  name  whert*hy  he  shall 
be  called,  the  Lord  our  lUghtevusness.  Which  is  re- 
peated, Jpr.  xxxiii.  14,  15. 
There  are  also  some  other  prophecies  relating  to  C!h  ist 


214  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Ohap.  20. 

and  his  Gospel  in  Jer.  xxxi.  some  of  which  are  cited  in 
the  New  Testament. 

17  Q.  Did  Ezekiel  foretel  any  thing  concerning 
Christ  ? 

A.  Yes ;  under  the  character  of  David,  the  servant 
of  God,  who  was  both  a  shepherd  and  a  king.  Ezek\ 
xxxiv.  23,  24,  *3nd  I  will  set  up  one  Shepherd  over 
thenif  and  he  shall  feed  them,  even  my  servant  David : 
and  I  the  Lord  will  J^e  their  God,  and  my  servant  Da- 
vid a  Prince  among  them  ;  and  I  will  make  with  them 
a  covenant  of  peace.  Ezek.  xxxvii.  21, 1  will  take  the 
children  of  Israel  from  among  the  heathen,  whither 
they  he  gone,  I  will  gather  them  on  every  side,  and  bring 
them  into  their  own  land  ;  and  I  will  make  them  one 
nation  in  the  land  upon  the  mountains  of  Israel,  and  one 
King  shall  be  King  to  them  alL  ver,  24.  Now  Christ 
Jesus  was  this  great  Shepherd  of  the  people,  John  x. 
1 — 16,  and  King  of  Israel,  John  i.  49,   and  xix.  19,  21. 

18  Q.  What  were  the  prophecies  of  Daniel  concern- 
ing Christ  ? 

»i.  Daniel  describes  him,  as  the  Son  of  man  who 
came  with  the  clouds  of  heaven  ;  and  there  was  given 
him  dominion  and  glory,  and  a  kingdom,  that  all  peo- 
jile  and  nations  should  serve  him  /  and  his  dominion  is 
an  everlasting  dominion.  Z>aw.  vii.  IS,  14.  Now  our 
blessed  Saviour  is  continually  called  the  Son  of  man  in 
the  history  of  the  Gospel ;  and  is  said  to  come  in  the 
clouds  of  heaven.  Matt.  xxiv.  SO,  and  xxvi.  64,  and  uni- 
versal dominion  is  given  him,  Matt,  xxviii.  18. 

There  is  also  another  very  remarkable  account  of  Jesus 
Christ,  or  the  Messiah,  given  to  Daniel  by  the  angel  Ga- 
briel, Dan.  ix.  24,  &c.  that  before  the  full  end  of  seventy 
iveeks,  that  is  seventy  times  seven  days,  which,  in  pro- 
phetical language,  are  four  hundred  and  ninety  years,  af- 
ter the  commission  to  Nehemiah  to  restore  Jerusalem,  and 
the  church  of  the  Jews;  the  Messiah  shall  be  cut  off,  but 
not  for  himself:  that  tliis  term  of  years  is  appointed  to 
finish  transgression,  to  make  an  end  of  sin,  to  make 
reconciliation  for  iniquity,  to  bring  in  everlasting 
righteousness,  to  seal  up  the  vision  and  j^rophecy,  and 


lhap.£a        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  215 

anoint  tiie  Most  Holy.  And  after  this,  the  people  of  the 
prince  that  shall  come,  that  is,  the  Romans,  shall  de- 
stroy the  city  and  the  sanctuary.  All  which  were  ful- 
filled in  their  proper  seasons,  by  the  death  of  Christ,  his 
atonement  for  sin,  and  the  destruction  of  Jemsalem  and 
the  temple  some  time  after. 

19  ^,  What  is  the  next  remarkable  prophecy  con- 
cerning Christ  in  the  books  of  Scripture  ? 

^.  3licah  tells  us  the  place  where  Christ  should  be 
born.  Mic.  v.  2,  Thou  Bethlehem  Epratnh,  though  thou 
be  little  among  the  thousands  of  Judah,  yet  out  of  thee 
sJwll  he  come  forth  unto  me,  that  is  to  be  Ruler  in  Israel, 
lohose  goings  forth  have  been  from  old,  from  everlasting. 
Which  prophecy  is  plainly  fulfilled.  Matt.  ii.  1—6,  and 
Luke  iL  4,  5,  when  Mary  the  mother  of  Christ  went  up 
to  Bethlehem  to  be  taxed  there,  being  of  the  family  of 
David,  together  with  Joseph  her  husi>and,  of  the  same 
family,  and  there  she  brought  forth  her  son  Jesns. 

20  Q.     What  did  Haggai  foretel  concerning  Christ  ? 
.S.     Hag.  ii.  6—9,  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts, 

■ipt  once  it  is  a  little  while  and  I  mill  shake  the  heavens 
d  the  earth,  and  the  sea,  and  the  dry  land :  and  I  will 

Hike  allnations;  and  theDesire  of  all  nations  shallcome, 
and  I  u' ill  Jill  this  house  with  glory,  saith  the  Lord  of 
hosts:  and  the  glory  of  this  latter  house  shall  be  great-' 
er  than  of  the  former,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts.  Which 
is  naturally  explained  thus :  he  who  was  the  Desire  of 
all  nations,  or  who  should  be  desired  as  a  Saviour  by  the 
Jews  and  Gentiles,  should  come  (as  Malachi  expresses 
it)  into  his  temple.  Mai.  iii.  1.  And  by  tins  means,  even 
by  his  own  presence,  should  make  the  latter  temple, 
which  was  built  after  the  captivity,  more  glorious  than 
that  of  Solomon's ;  though  its  riclies  and  magnificence, 
mall  outward  respects,  were  far  inferior  to  Solomon's: 
this  is  the  only  reasonable  constiuction  that  can  be  put 
upon  those  words. 

21  ^.    Does  Zechariah  tell  us  any  thine:  conceminff 

Christ?  ^  o  o 

Ji.    Though  his  prophecy  be  generally  pretty  obscure, 
yet  in  several  places  he  speaks  those  things  wliich  plain- 


216  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  20. 

\y  relate  to  the  Messiah ;  some  whereof  are  cited  and 
applied  to  Christ  in  the  New  Testament,  and  several  of 
them  were  attributed  to  the  Messiah  bj  the  ancient  Jews. 
See  the  texts  that  follow. 

He  tells  us  in  chap.  vi.  ver.  12,  Thus  speaketh  the 
Lord  of  hosts,  sayings  Behold  the  man  whose  name  is 
the  Branch,  he  shall  build  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  he 
shall  bear  the  glory,  and  shall  sit  and  rule  upon  his 
throne,  and  he  shall  be  a  Priest  upon  his  throne,  and  the 
council  of  peace  shall  be  between  them  both :  and  they 
that  are  afar  off  shall  come  and  build  in  the  temple  of 
the  Lord.  Wherein  the  prophet  informs  us,  "  that  this 
person,  whom  foregoing  propliets  have  called  the  Branch 
out  of  the  root  of  Jesse,  shall  build  up  the  church  of 
God  in  the  world,  shall  be  both  a  Priest  and  a  King  with 
counsels  of  peace ;  and  the  heathens  that  are  alar  oft' 
shall  come  and  assist  this  work  of  building  up  the 
church." 

This  same  prophet  declares  also  that  Christ  should 
come  to  Jerusalem  as  the  King  of  Zion,  meek,  and 
bringing  salvation,  riding  upon  a  colt  the  foal  of  an 
uss.  Zech.  ix.  10.  Which  was  fulfilled.  Matt.  xxi.  5, 
and  John  xii.  15. 

22  Q.  Does  this  prophet  say  any  thing  concerning 
the  remission  of  sins  to  be  obtained  through  Jesus 
Christ? 

A.  Yes ;  there  is  a  remarkable  prophecy  in  Zech.  xiii. 
1,  which  must  be  referred  to  this  subject.  In  that  day 
there  shall  be  a  fountain  opened  to  the  house  of  David, 
€ind  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  for  sin  and  for  uur 
cleanness  ;  that  is,  by  the  death  of  Christ,  and  his  blood 
making  atonement  for  sin.  And  ver.  7,  his  sufferings 
are  described,  which  should  be  inflicted  on  him,  when 
God  himself  should  bruise  him,  and  make  his  soul  an 
offering  for  sin,  as  Isaiah  expresses  it ;  and  that  his 
disciples  for  a  season  should  forsake  him.  Zech.  xiii.  7, 
Jiwake,  O  sword,  against  my  Shepherd,  and  against  the 
Man  that  is  my  Fellow,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts.  Smite 
the  Shepherd,  and  the  sheep  shall  be  scattered.  Which 
was  fulfilled.    Matt.  xx>i.  50. 


Chap.  20.         SCRIPTCRE  HISTORY.  517 

And  besides  all  this,  his  sufferings  from  the  hands  of 
men  are  also  described,  namely,  that  he  should  be  sold 
for  thirfjf  pieces  of  silver,  which  should  be  given  to  the 
jwtter,  Zech,  xi.  12,  13,  which  the  prophet  speaks  as  per- 
sonating the  Messiah,  as  David  had  often  done  before : 
and  it  was  fulfilled.  »Matt.  xxvii.  9,  10.  The  prophet 
foretels  also  the  manner  of  his  death,  namely,  that  he 
should  be  pierced;  and  intimates  the  conversion  of  some 
of  those  Jews  who  crucified  him.  Zech.  xii.  10,  /  ivill 
pour  out  on  the  house  of  Davidy  and  the  inhabitants  of 
Jerusaiem,  the  spirit  oj  grace  and  supplication  ;  and 
Viey  shall  look  on  me  ^or  him)  whom  they  have  pierced, 
and  mourn  for  him :  fulfilled  in  John  xix.  34,  36,  when 
his  side  was  pierced  with  a  spear,  and  his  hands  and  feet 
with  nails  ;  and  Jets  ii.  23,  36,  37,  41,  when  his  cruci- 
fiers  were  converted  ;  whereof  a  fuller  and  more  glorious 
accomplishment  is  expected  in  the  latter  days  among  the 
Jewish  nation,  who  have  been  piercing  him  with  re- 
proaches almost  ever  since. 

23  Q.  And  what  does  Malachi  the  last  of  the  pro- 
phets speak  concerning  Christ? 

Ji,  His  prophecy  is  expressed  in  pretty  plain  lan- 
guage. Chap.  in.  1,  Behold  I  will  send  my  messenger, 
fnamely,  John  the  baptist)  and  he  shall  prepare  the  tvay 
oefore  'me.  Matt.  xi.  10.  And  the  Lord  whom  ye  seek 
shall  suddenly  come  to  his  temple,  even  the  Messenger 
of  the  covenant  whom  you  delight  in.  And  he  shall  sit 
as  a  refiner  and  purifier  of  silver  ;  and  he  shall  purify 
the  sons  of  Levi,  that  they  may  offer  to  the  Lord  an 
offering  in  righteousness.  Now  this  was  accomplished 
M'hen  Christ  came  into  the  temple,  and  when  he  reformed 
the  evil  practices  of  the  priests  and  tlic  people. 

24  Q.  You  have  ij^ven  us  a  large  account  of  what  the 
Jewish  prophets  have  foretold  ;  but  were  there  no  others 
besides  the  Jews  which  prophecied  concerning  Christ? 

J.  Yes  ;  there  are  two  very  remarkable  persoiis  who 
were  not  Jews,  whose  expressions  have  a  reference  to 
our  blessed  Saviour ;  and  these  w  ere  Balaam  and  Job. 

25  Q.     What  did  Balaam  say  concerning  Christ  ? 

20 


218  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  20. 

.5.  There  shall  come  a  Star  out  of  Jacob,  and  a 
Sceptre  shall  rise  out  of  Israel,  and  shall  smite  the 
corners  of  Moah,  and  destroy  all  the  children  of  Seth  ; 
Seir  and  Edom  shall  he  a  possession;  and  out  of  Jacob 
sliull  come  he  who  shall  have  dominion.  JWimb,  xxiv. 
17,  &c. 

2fi  ^.  What  reason  is  given  to  prove  that  this  refers 
to  Christ  ? 

*i.  Christ  is  called  the  Morning  Star.  Rev,  xxii.  16. 
He  was  of  the  family  of  Jacob  or  Israel :  he  shall  smite 
and  destroy  the  enemies  of  the  church,  and  have  the  hea- 
thens for  a  possession,  and  his  dominion  is  everlasting. 
Psalm  ii.  6 — 9. 

27  Q.  What  is  the  remarkable  prophecy  which  Job 
spake  concerning  Christ  ? 

.^.  Job  xix.  25,  26,  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liv- 
ethy  and  that  he  shall  stand  at  the  latter  day  upon  the 
earth :  and  though  after  my  skin  worms  destroy  this 
body,  yet  in  my  flesh  shall  I  see  God. 

28  Q.     When  is  this  prophecy  to  be  fulfilled  ? 

A.  Wlien  Christ  the  Redeemer,  who  lives  in  heaven, 
shall  come  to  raise  the  dead,  and  to  judge  the  world,  he 
shall  stand  at  last  upon  the  earth,  after  his  enemies  are 
conquered  ;  and  the  children  of  God  in  their  new  raised 
bodies  shall  see  God ;  that  is,  shall  see  Jesus  Christ  the 
Redeemer,  who  is  Emmanuel,  or  God  with  us ;  and  who 
is  described  as  God  manifest  in  the  flesh.  1  Thess.  iv. 
16,  17.     1  Cor.  XV.  24—26.     1  Tim.  iii.  16. 

29  Q.  What  great  and  evident  truths  may  be  infer- 
red from  this  long  rank  of  prophecies  concerning  Jesus 
Christ  our  Saviour  ? 

^.  We  learn,  that  from  the  beginning  of  the  world, 
ever  since  the  sin  and  fall  of  Adam,  throughout  the  seve- 
ral ages  of  mankind,  tliere  hath  been  a  continual  succes- 
sion of  prophecies  given  from  God,  who  foreknows  all 
things,  ccmcerning  some  great  and  glorious  Deliverer  and 
Saviour,  who  should  be  manifested  to  the  world  in  time  ; 
and  tliat  he  should  appear  as  the  King  of  Israel,  and  for 
the  salvation  both  of  Jews  and  Gentiles:  and  according-; 


Chap.  20.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  219 

]y  he  has  been  expected  by  those  good  men  in  the  several 
ages  who  were  best  acquainted  with  the  Scriptures,  and 
particularly  in  that  age  wherein  Jesus  Christ  appeared. 
See  Liike  i.  69,  70,  and  xxiv.  27.    *icts  iii.  18 — 24. 

30  Q.    But  does  this  determine  Jesus  tlie  son  of  Mary, 
to  be  this  glorious  person,  tliis  expected  Saviour? 

J.  Since  all  the  characters  which  so  many  prophets, 
I  so  many  dillerent  ages,  have  given  concerning  the 
Messiah  or  Christ  the  Saviour,  do  really  agree  and  meet 
together  in  Jesus,  and  in  none  besides ;  they  leave  us  no 
room  to  doubt  whether  this  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  son  ot 
Mary,  be  the  Christ  or  no. 


THE 


HISTORY 

OF    THE 

NEW    TESTAMENT, 


ABRIDGED    IN    WAT    OF 


QUESTION  AND  ANSWER. 


THE  INTRODUCTION. 

Having  finished  the  History  of  the  Old  Testament, 
and  related  in  short  the  affairs  of  the  Jews,  so  far  as  we 
find  them  recorded  elsewhere,  we  proceed  now  to  the 
History  of  the  New.  The  chief  subjects  of  it  are  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Saviour  of  mankind ;  John  the 
baptist,  who  was  the  forerunner  ;  and  the  apostles,  who 
were  his  followers. 

Tlie  history  of  John  the  baptist  is  but  short ;  it  contains 
a  brief  narrative  of  his  birth,  his  ministry,  and  liis  death. 

The  history  of  Christ  our  Saviour  is  much  larger,  and 
it  may  be  divided  into  three  distinct  parts,  namely,  the 
account  of  his  birth  and  childhood ;  the  account  of  his 
public  life  and  ministry  ;  and  the  account  of  his  death, 
resurrection  and  ascension. 

The  history  of  the  apostles,  after  our  Saviour's  ascen> 
sion,  begins  with  an  account  of  the  twelve  apostles,  in 
genera!,  but  chiefly  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  John  ;  and  pro- 
ceeds more  lar»elj^to  a  particular  account  of  the  travels, 
labours,  and  sufferings  of  St.  Paul :  and  this  concludes 
20* 


2£2  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  21. 

the  Scripture  History,  except  what  is  contained  in  the 
visions  of  St.  John,  in  the  Revelation. 

The  writers  of  this  history  are  St.  Matthew  and  St. 
John  the  apostles ;  St.  Mark  the  companion  of  St.  Peter, 
and  St.  Luke  the  companion  of  St.  Paul.  It  is  contained 
chiefly  in  the  four  Gospels,  written  by  those  evangelists 
whose  names  they  bear,  and  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles, 
of  which  Luke  was  the  writer ;  though  some  further  hints 
and  memoirs  may  be  collected  from  some  parts  of  the 
Epistles. 


CHAP.  XXI. 

Of  John  the  Baptist, 

1  Q.  As  the  Old  Testament  begins  with  the  creation 
of  the  world,  so  the  first  question  here  is,  who  was  the 
Saviour  of  the  world  ? 

J.  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  who  was  sent  down 
to  dwell  among  men,  in  order  to  become  their  Saviour. 
Matt,  i.  2L  1  Tim.  i.  15.  John  iii.  17.  1  John  iv.  14. 
Matt.  xvi.  16. 

2  Q.     What  notice  was  ever  given  of  his  coming  ? 
^,    God  himsel  f,  and  his  prophets,  throughout  all  ages, 

have  foretold  his  coming  as  some  great  Deliverer,  as  the 
Messiah,  or  Anointed  of  God.     Luke  i.  70.    *Scts  iii.  18. 

3  Q.  Were  there  any  plain  marks  or  characters  giv- 
en him  whereby  he  might  be  known  ? 

.5.  Yes ;  many  characters  of  him  are  found  in  the 
books  of  the  Old  Testament,  as  the  foregoing  chapter 
declares ;  and  he  has  answered  them  all,  both  in  his  life, 
his  doctrine,  his  death,  and  his  resurrection. 

4  Q.  Was  sucli  a  Messiah  expected  by  the  Jews,  to 
whom  the  books  of  the  Old  Testament  were  given  ? 

•S.  He  was  long  expected  by  them,  and  particularly 
in  that  age  wherein  he  came  :  and  that  both  by  the  Jew? 
and  by  the  Samaritans.  John  i.  45.  Luke  viii.  1 5. 
John  iv.  25,  29. 


Chap.  21.         SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Ci25 

.Vote,  It  ii  worth  our  obst- rvation,  that  not  only  the  Jews 
.,iiJ  Samaritan*,  but  the  lieathen*  also,  abjut  this  tiiue,  expect- 
ed some  great  king  or  glorious  person  to  be  born. 

Virgil,  the  Romun  poet,  who  lived  in  the  time  of  Augustus 
Caesar,  in  his  fourth  Eclogue,  is  supposed  to  describe  the  bles- 
sings of  the  government  and  atje  of  some  great  person,  who  was 
or  should  be  born  about  this  tlii  ''      '     •    .      <  ,.y 

agreeable   to  tlie  Jewiih  pro;  1, 

and  his  kingdom.     Sonie   suj-j-    <  ......  ...  ., -. ,  .i.-c 

from  some  ancient  books  of  the  prophetesses,  who  were  caJle<l 
SyhiU:  but  it  is  evident  that  those  writings  of  the  Sybils  which 
are  delivered  down  to  us,  have  so  many  signs  of  forgery,  that 
we  can  give  no  great  credit  to  them. 

Suetonius,  a  Roman  writer,  tells  us,  in  the  life  of  Augustus 
Csesar,  that  there  was  one  Julius  Marathus,  declared, '•' that 
Nature  was  about  to  bring  forth  a  king  for  the  people  of  Rome.'" 
He  says  also,  in  the  life  of  Vespasian,  ''•  that  there  had  prevailed 
over  all  the  eastern  part  of  the  world,  a  constant  opinion,  that 
about  that  time  there  should  come  out  of  Judea  those  who 
should  obtain  the  empire  of  the  world."  Tacitus,  another  of 
their  historians,  saith  the  same  thing;  and  that  it  was  contained 
in  Ihe  ancient  books  of  the  Jtitish  priests  :  so  that  both  Jews 
and  Gentiles  expected  now  some  glorious  person  to  arise  iu  the 
world. 

5  Q,  Who  was  the  forerunner,  or  tlie  messenger  sent 
to  declare  that  lie  was  just  at  hand  ? 

Ji.  Jolin  the  baptist,  the  son  of  Zecharias  and  Elisa- 
beth.    Luke  i.  5,  67.     ^Mark  i.  2. 

6  Q.     What  was  Zecharias  ? 

Ji,  A  good  man,  and  a  priest,  who  lived  without  a 
child  till ''his  wife  and  he  were  both  grown  old. 
Luke  i.  6,  7. 

7  Q.  What  was  there  remarkable  in  the  birth  of 
John  r 

•/J.  The  angel  Gabriel  appeared  to  Zecliarias  while 
he  was  ottering  incense  in  the  temple,  and  tlie  neople 
were  praying  witliout,  and  told  him  that  he  should  Imve 
a  son,  and  should  call  his  name  John.     Luke  i.  9,  &c. 

8  (^.  What  sign  did  the  angel  give  of  tlie  truth  of  liis 
message  ? 

A-  That  Zecharias  should  be  dumb,  and  not  able  to 
-peak  till  John  was  born.     rer.  20. 


224  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  21. 

9  Q.  What  honour  was  done  to  Elisabeth  while  she 
was  with  child  of  her  son  ? 

*fl.  The  virgin  Mary,  the  mother  of  Jesus,  made  a 
visit  to  her,  and  they  both  rejoiced  and  praised  God  to- 
gether in  a  divine  rapture.     Luke  i.  39 — 55. 

10  Q.  When  was  Zecharias  released  from  his  dumb- 
ness, and  had  his  voice  restored  to  him  ? 

Ji,  When  his  wife  brought  forth  a  son,  and  they  were 
going  to  circumcise  the  child,  he  wrote  his  name  John 
on  a  table,  and  then  his  tongue  was  loosed,  and  he  spake 
the  praises  of  God.    ver.  59 — 64. 

11  Q.     Where  was  John  brought  up? 

*A.  In  the  desert  country  or  wilderness  of  Judea,  and 
there  also  he  began  his  public  ministry,  when  he  was 
about  thirty  years  of  age.  ver.  80,  and  Luke  iii.  2. 

1 2  Q.     What  was  his  chief  commission  from  God  ? 
^.     He  was  sent  to  preach  the  doctrine  of  repentance, 

and  forgiveness  of  sins ;  to  baptize  or  wash  with  water 
those  who  professed  their  repentance,  and  to  direct  the 
people  to  Christ  as  the  Saviour.  Mark  i.  4,  5.  John  i. 
26,  31. 

13  Q.  What  further  instructions  did  he  give  to  the 
people  ? 

.5.  He  bid  them  not  trust  in  their  being  the  children 
of  Abraham  ;  he  taught  them  lessons  of  love  and  liberal- 
ity ;  to  give  food  and  clothing  to  those  who  wanted  :  and 
he  gave  special  directions  to  the  Pharisees  and  Saddu- 
cees,  to  the  publicans  and  the  soldiers,  who  came  to  be 
baptized.    Matt.  iii.  7,  8.  Luke  iii.  7 — 14. 

14  (^.  What  directions  did  he  give  to  the  Pharisees 
and  Sadducees.*^ 

Jl.  He  bid  them  bring  forth  fruits  in  their  lives,  to 
make  their  repentance  appear,  as  well  as  profess  it  with 
their  lips.    Matt.  iii.  7,  8. 

15  Q.  What  advice  did  he  give  the  publicans  or  tax 
gatherers  ? 

A.  To  exact  or  demand  no  more  money  of  the  peo- 
ple than  what  was  appointed.     Luke  iii.  13. 

16  Q.    And  what  was  his  counsel  to  the  soldiers  ? 


Chap.  21.         SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  2^2p 

J,    To  do  violence  or  injury  to  none,  to  accuse  no 
person  falsely,  and  to  be  content  with  their  pay.     Luke 

lii.  !-*•  .       , .       ifs 

IT  q.  AVhat  did  he  say  concermn<;  himself  i 
A,  That  he  was  not  tlie  Christ,  nor  the  very  nrophet 
Elias  risen  from  the  dead  ;  but  that  he  was  only  conie 
as  a  voice  in  the  wilderness,  to  prepare  the  way  of  the 
Lord,  according  to  the  prophecy  ot  Isaiah.  John  i. 
00—23.  Isa.  xl.  3.  r  ,    . 

18  q.  But  does  not  Jesus  Christ  himself  say,  that 
John  was  Elias,  or  Elijali  ? 

A*  Yes ;  because  he  came  in  the  spirit  and  power  ot 
Elias,  to  prepare  the  way  for  Christ,  according  to  the 
^ense  of  the  prophet  Malachi.  Mat,  iv.  5.  Luke  i.  1- . 
Matt,K\\l  12,  13.  . 

19  Q.    Wherein  did  he  imitate  or  look  like  fcilias,  or 

Elijah?  .       ,       ,     1-    J 

»i.  That  he  wore  a  garment  of  hair ;  that  lie  livea 
an  austere  life,  like  Elijah,  in  the  wilderness ;  that  he 
came  to  begin  a  reformation  among  the  Jews,*as  Llias 
did,  when  they  were  greatly  corrupted  ;  and  he  reproved 
Herod,  as  Elias  reproved  Ahab.  Mark  i.  G,  and  ix.  13. 
J/fl^f.xiv.3.  . 

20  (J.     Wiiat  did  he  say  concerning  Jesus  Canst  ? 
.'/.     He  declared  that  though  Jesus  came  after  him, 

yet  he  was  not  worthy  to  bear  liis  shoes ;  that  he  only 
baptized  with  water,  but  Jesus  would  baptize  with  the 
Hobj  Ghost  and  with  fire;  and  he  pointed  him  out  in 
ihe  midst  of  the  people  ;  This  is  the  l^mh  of  God  that 
taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world,  John  i.  29—34. 
Matt.nl  11.  ,   .    ■ 

^:i   (?.    How  did  he  come  to  know  Jesus  Christ  ? 
^1.     lie  liad  some  notice  jriven  him  privately  from 
God,  and  he  had  a  further  public  sign  from  heaven  to 
^onfirm  his  knowledge  of  him. 
rjm    ^^  Q.     ^Vhat  was  that  public  sign  ? 
'^    A.     When  Jesus  was  baptized  by  John  at  the  river 
Jordan,  the  Holy  Ghost  came  down  like  a  dove,  and 
vested  upon  him,  as  God  luul  loreto!:!  him.     .Vr''^  in. 
16,  17,  and  John  i.  31-— 3.^ 


2:26  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap,  21. 

23  Q.  Did  the  disciples  of  John  immediately  leave 
him,  and  follow  Jesus  ? 

Jl.  No;  for  Jesus  had  not  then  begun  his  public 
ministry. 

24  Q.  How  did  John  further  recommend  Jesus  Christ 
to  his  disciples  ? 

A.  Some  time  after  he  sent  them  to  see  the  miracles 
that  Jesus  wrought,  that  they  might  be  convinced  that  he 
was  the  Messiah.    Matt.  xi.  6. 

25  Q.     What  became  of  John  the  baptist  ? 

»i.  He  was  cast  into  prison  by  Herod,  because  he 
reproved  him  for  taking  Herodias,  his  brother  Philip's 
wife.    Matt.  xiv.  3,  4. 

26  €(.  Did  not  Herod  hear  Jolm  preach  sometimes, 
and  reformed  some  of  his  evil  practices  upon  it  r 

A.  Yes,  he  did ;  and  yet  he  was  persuaded  to  put 
him  to  death  at  last,  to  satisfy  the  malice  and  revenge  of 
this  wicked  woman.    Mark  vi.  20 — 29. 

27  Q.     How  came  this  to  pass  ? 

*/i.  IJpon  Herod's  birth-day,  the  daughter  of  Hero- 
dias pleased  the  king  so  well  with  her  dancing,  that  he 
promised  to  give  her  whatever  she  asked  ;  and  her  moth- 
er bid  her  ask  for  John  the  baptist's  head  in  a  dish. 
Matt.  xiv.  6—8. 

28  Q,  And  did  Herod  then  corhply  with  this  bloody 
request  ? 

A.  Yes  ;  for  he  had  sworn  to  it  before  a  great  deal 
of  company  ;  and  rather  than  break  his  rash  and  sinful 
oath,  he  would  kill  a  prophet  of  God.    Matt.  xiv.  9 — 11 . 

29  Q.    What  became  of  the  body  of  John  the  baptist? 
A.     His  disciples  took  it  up  and  buried  it.    ver.  12. 

30  Q.     Whither  did  his  disciples  go  afterward  ? 

^.  They  went  and  told  Jesus  what  had  befallen  their 
master,  and  probably  they  became  the  disciples  of  Jesus. 
ver.  12. 


22r 


Uiap.  22.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY. 

CHAP.  XXII. 

Of  the  Birth  and  Childhood  of  Jesus  Christ 

1  Q.     Who  was  Jesus  Christ  ?  , ,       . 
^.    The  Son  of  God,  who  came  into  this  world  to  be 

the  Saviour  of  men.     1  John  iv.  14.  John  iii.  17. 

2  4     What  does  the  name  Jesus  Christ  signify  ? 

jj.  Jesus  (which  is  his  proper  name)  sienihes  a  Sa- 
viour ;  and  ChHst  is  the  same  in  Greek  that  Messiah 
is  in  Hebrew,  which  signifies  his  being  anointed,  or  ap- 
pointed to  that  office.  Matt.  i.  21.  John  i.  41.  Fsal  ii.  2. 

3  (2.     Where  did  he  dwell  before  he  came  into  this 

world?  „    ,      .  1    • 

A.  He  dwdt  with  God  his  Father  in  a  ver^  glomus 
state  before  this  world  was  made.  John  xvii.  5,  and 
chap,\.  1, 2,  14.  -   .     o  .  ua 

4  0.     In  what  manner  did  he  come  into  tins  world  ? 
Jl.     He  laid  aside  his  glory,  he  took  a  body  of  f^esli 

and  blood,  which  God  had  prepred  for  him,  and  was 
born  of  Mary,  who  was  a  viro;in,  according  to  the  pro- 
phecy of  Isaiah.  FhiL  ii.  7.  Heb,  ii.  14,and  x.  5.  Matt. 
1. 20,  23.  'Jsrt.  vii.  14.  ^  r         r..    •    - 

5  Q.   Who  was  this  Mary,  the  mother  of  Jesus  Christr 
jj.     She  was  a  poor  young  woman  of  the  family  of 

David,  who  was  espoused  to,  or  had  consented  to  marry 
Joseph,  a  carpenter,  who  was  also  of  the  house  of  David, 
that  royal  family  beinj;  then  fallen  into  decay.  Matt,  i. 
18,  20.  Luke  i.  32.  J^uitt.  xiii.  55, 

6  q.     Did  Joseph  marry  her  afterwards  ? 

A,  Joseph  was  admonished  by  an  angel  of  God  to 
marry  her  without  fear,  because  the  child  that  was  form- 
ed in  her  was  by  the  Spirit  of  God.    Matt.  i.  20. 

7  Q.     What' notice  had  Mary  that  she  should  have 

such  a  son  ?  *  .  ^r  .» 

Ji.  The  angel  Gabriel  was  sent  to  her  at  Nazareth, 
Fhere  she  dwelt,  to  assure  her  that  the  Power  of  the 
most  high  Gud  should  overshadow  her,  and  that  she 


228  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  22. 

should  bring  forth  a  child  who  should  be  called  the  Son 
of  God.    Luke  I  26—35. 

8  Q.  How  was  Mary  further  encouraged  in  this  hope  ? 
»4.     While  she  was  with  child  with  her  son  Jesus, 

she  went  to  visit  her  cousin  Elisabetli,  who  was  then 
with  child  with  John  the  baptist ;  Elisabeth  saluted 
her  as  the  mother  of  the  Messiah,  and  they  were  both 
inspired  to  praise  the  Lord  with  divine  raptures.  Luke 
I  39—55. 

9  Q.     Wliere  was  Jesus  Christ  born  ? 

J.  In  Bethlehem  the  city  of  David,  according  to  the 
prophecy  of  Micah.  Luke  u.  4.  Matt.u.5y6.  Micah\,2, 

10  Q.     How  came  Mary  to  lie  in  at  Bethlehem  ? 

•5.  Augustus  Csesar,  the  emperor,  had  decreed  to  tax 
or  register  all  the  world ;  and  Joseph  being  of  the  house 
of  David,  went  up  with  Mary  his  espoused  wife,  to  be 
registered  or  taxed  in  Bethlehem  the  city  of  David. 
Luke  ii.  1— -5. 

H  Q.     What  provision  was  made  for  her  there  ? 

•5.  A  poor  provision  indeed :  there  was  no  room  for 
them  in  the  inn  ;  she  was  lodged  in  a  stable,  and  when 
she  brought  forth  her  son,  she  laid  him  in  the  manger. 
Luke  ii,  17. 

12  Q.  What  special  notices  were  given  that  this 
child  was  the  Messiah,  or  Christ  the  King  of  Israel  ^ 

A.  Many  notices  were  given  of  it  by  angels  and  men, 
by  Jews  and  Gentiles. 

13  Q.  What  notice  was  given  by  angels  that  Christ 
was  born  ? 

A.  An  angel  appeared  to  some  shepherds  by  night, 
and  sent  them  to  find  the  babe  in  a  manger  at  Bethlehem. 
Luke  ii.  8 — 16. 

14  Q.  What  joy  was  shewn  among  the  angels  upon 
this  occasion  ? 

»4.  A  multitude  of  the  heavenly  host  praised  God, 
saying.  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  peace  on  earth,  and 
good  will  towards  men  :  and  this  the  shepherds  heard. 
ver.  13,  14. 

15  Q.  What  testimonies  were  given  to  Jesus  Christ 
in  his  infancy  by  any  of  the  Jews  ? 


Chap.a2.        SCRIPTURE  IlISTOMy,  22^ 


A.  When  he  was  brought  to  the  teinpl^^(|yj^circum- 
cisetl,  and  presented  to  the  Lord  as  the  firsJ^SrnC^imeon 
and  Anna,  two  ancient  persons  among  the  JTew^,  feoiie.. 
witness  to  hini.     ver,  25,  26. 

16  Q.  What  was  the  witness  which  Simeon  bore  to 
the  infant  Jesus  f 

^.  It  was  revealed  to  him  that  he  should  not  die  be- 
fore he  had  seen  the  Messiah  ;  and  he  took  Jesus  up  in 
his  arms,  and  said,  JSTow,  Lord,  let  thy  servant  depart  in 
peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  thy  salvation,  ver.  26—30. 

1 7  O.     What  witness  did  Anna  bear  to  him  ? 

^.  She  Was  an  aged  vv  idow,  and  a  prophetess ;  she 
gave  thanks  to  the  Lord  concerning  him,  and  spake  of 
him  to  all  that  looked  for  redemption  in  Jerusalem,  ver. 
36—38. 

1 8  Q.  AVho  among  the  Gentiles  received  notice  of 
the  birth  of  Christ? 

J.  Some  wise  men  in  the  east  had  seen  a  new  star, 
and  thev  had  some  divine  notice  that  a  king  of  the  Jews 
was  born,  and  the^  came  to  worship  him.     Jlait.  ii.  1,  2. 

19  ((.  How  did  they  find  out  ttiQ  house  where  Jesus 
was? 

^.  The  star  went  before  them,  and  stood  over  tlie 
place  where  the  infant  lay.  ver.  9. 

20  (^.     What  honour  did  they  do  him? 

A,  rhcy  fell  down  and  worshipped  him,  and  present- 
ed him  gold  and  spices.    ver,l\, 

21  Q.  What  enemies  or  dangers  did  Jesus  meet 
uitli  in  his  infancy  ? 

Ji,  lierod  the  great,  who  then  reigned  in  Judea,  hav- 
ing heard  from  the  wise  men  that  a  king  of  the  Jews  was 
born,  was  filled  w  ith  jealousy,  and  thought  to  destroy  Je- 
sus,   ver.  13. 

22  q.     What  means  did  Herod  use  to  destroy  him  ? 
^?.     He  slew  all  the  children  (hat  were  in  or  near 

JJetiilehem,  under  two  years  old.     ver.  IG. 

2.>  Q.     How  did  the  child  Jesus  escape? 

JL  Joseph,  his  supposed  father,  was  warned  by  an 
.iiii2;el  to  take  the  young  child  and  his  mother  and  flee 
"ffo  Egypt,     tvr.  13. 


230  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Cliap.  23. 

24  ^.  When  did  Jesus  return  into  the  land  of  Is- 
rael ?  4 

Ji.  When  Herod  was  dead,  God  sent  a  message  by 
an  angel  in  a  dream,  to  command  Joseph  and  Mary  to 
return  with  him ;  so  they  returned  into  Galilee,  and 
tlwelt  in  Nazareth,  their  city.    ver.  1 9 — 23. 

25  Q.  Was  there  any  tiling  further  remarkable  in  the 
childhood  of  Jesus? 

Jl.  When  he  was  twelve  years  old  he  went  up  with 
his  parents  to  the  pass-over,  according  to  their  custom ; 
but  when  they  returned,  they  missed  their  son.  Luke 
ii.  41 — 43. 

26  Q.    Where  did  they  find  him  ? 

A.  They  turned  back  to  Jerusalem,  and  after  three 
days  they  found  him  in  the  temple,  in  the  midst  of  the 
doctors,  both  hearing  them,  and  asking  them  questions, 
ver.  45,  46. 

27  Q.  What  reason  did  the  child  Jesus  give  for  his 
conduct  ? 

*A.  He  told  them,  that  they  might  have  supposed  he 
luas  about  his  father's  business  ;  but  lie  went  down  with 
them  to  Nazareth,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  child- 
hood, and  was  subject  to  his  parents.    Luke  ii.  49 — 51 

28  Q.     How  did  Jesus  employ  his  younger  years  ? 
,.9.     It    is    reported    by   the   ancients,  that    he    was 

brought  up  to  has  father's  trade,  who  was  a  country  car- 
penter, and  that  he  made  ploughs,  and  yokes  for  oxen  ; 
lor  Jesus  himself  is  called  a  carpenter.     Mark  vi.  3. 


CHAP.  XXIII. 

Of  the  public  Life  and  Ministry  of  Christ* 


INTRODUCTION. 
His  Preparation  for  his  public  Work. 

1  Q.     At  what  age  did  Jesus  begin  to  appear  in  pub- 
lic ? 


Chap.  23.         SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  231 

Ji.    At  about  thirty  years  of  a^e.     Luke  tii.  23. 
•  2  Q,     How  was  he  prepared  tor  his  public  work  ? 

Ji,  He  was  euiinently  prepared  tor  it  by  his  baptism, 
by  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  him,  by  his  retire- 
ment, and  his  temptations.     Luke  iii.  and  iv. 

3  Q.     When  was  Jesus  Christ  baptized  ? 

J,  When  Jolin  the  baptist  was  sent  with  a  commis- 
sion to  baptize  men,  Jesus  oftered  himself  at  the  River 
Jordan  to  be  baptized,  that  he  might /u//i^  all  righteouS' 
jifss,  though  he  had  no  need  to  be  washed  from  sin 
Matt.  iii.  14,  15. 

4  Q.  ^^'!\at  testimony  did  he  receive  from  John  the 
baptist  ? 

Ji.  John  declared,  that  Jesus  was  the  Lamb  of  God 
ivho  would  take  awaij  the  sins  of  the  world  ;  and  that 
he  himself,  who  baptized  with  water,  was  not  worthy  to 
loose  the  shoes  of  Jesus,  because  he  was  appointed  to 
baptize  with  the  Uoly  Spirit  and  with  fire.  Matt.  iii.  11. 

5  Q.     What  miracle  attended  this  baptism? 

J.  When  Jesiis  came  out  of  the  water,  the  Spirit  of 
God  like  a  dove  descended  upon  him,  and  a  voice  from 
heaven  teas  heard,  saying.  This  is  my  beloved  Son  in 
ichnm  I  am  rvell  pleased.    Matt,  iii.  16,  17. 

6  Q.  Whitlier  did  he  go  for  his  retirement  after  he 
was  baptized  ? 

Ji.  He  was  led  into  the  wilderness,  not  only  to  en- 
dure temptation,  and  conquer  the  tempter  there,  but 
probably  to  spend  forty  days  in  meditation  and  prayer, 
and  converse  with  Go(l  ;  as  Moses,  before  his  j|;ivino;  the 
laws  t;>  I^^ael, spent  forty  davs  with  God  on  Mount  Sinai. 
Mark  i.  1'?,  13. 

7  U.  A^'as  tliis  the  place  of  his  contest  witJi  the 
tempter  r 

Ji.  Yes ;  the  devil  assaulted  him  here  with  three  pow- 
riful  tomplatitms.    Matt.'w.  1 — II. 

8  (I.     What  was  the  first  temptation? 

.7.  The  devil  persuaded  him  to  turn  stones  into 
Uroad,  because  he  was  an  hungred,  having  fasted  forty 
days. 

9  Q.     How  did  Christ  answer  liim  ? 


9.32  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  23. 

J.  By  shewing  him  that  man  doth  not  live  by  bread 
aloneybuiby  the  power  and  blessing  of  God.  Deut.y'm.S. 

10  ({      What  was  the  second  temptation  r 

.?.  The  devil  set  him  upon  a  pinnacle  of  the  temple, 
and  bid  him  cast  himself  dawn,  for  there  was  a  promise, 
in  Psalm  xci.  11,  thfit  angels  should  bear  him  uvy  so  that 
he  should  receive  no  liurt. 

i  1    Q.     How  did  Jesus  resist  that  temptation  ? 

Jl.  By  shewing  that  we  must  not  tempt  tlie  provi- 
dence of  God  any  way,  Deut,  vi.  16,  and  therefore  we 
must  not  venture  upon  dano;ers  without  necessity. 

\^.  Q.     Wliat  was  the  third  temptation  ? 

ji.  The  devil  promised  to  give  liim  all  the  kingdoms 
af  this  world,  if  Jesus  would  fall  down  and  worship  him. 

13  §.     How  was  this  temptation  vanquished  ? 

Ji,    By  declaring  tluit  God  only  was  to  be  worshipped . _ 
Deut,\u\S,  and  x.  20. 

14  ^.  Whence  did  Jesus  derive  his  answers  to  these 
several  temptations  ? 

./i.  From  several  texts  of  Scripture  which  he  cited 
upon  this  occasion,  and  all  out  of  the  book  of  Deuterono- 
iny. 

15  Q.  What  token  of  honour  from  heaven  did  Chri&t 
receive  in  the  wilderness  ? 

A.  When  the  devil  was  disappointed  and  vanquished, 
and  forsook  him,  the  angels  of  (rod  came  and  ministered 
unto  him. 


SEcr.  I.    Jesus  Christ's  Jppearance  with  the  Charac-^- 
ters  of  the  tMessiah. 

IG  Q.  W^E  are  come  now  to  tb.e  public  life  and  min- 
istry of  Jesus  Christ:  let  us  liear  what  were  tlie  chief 
parts  or  designs  of  it  ? 

Jl.  The  iirst  design  of  his  public  life  and  ministry 
was,  to  appear  in  the  world  with  the  marks  of  a  divine 
commission,  and  tlie  characters  of  the  Messiah  upou 
him. 


.# 


Seci.  1.  SCRIPTURE  IliSTOUV.  ^235 

17  Q.     How  dill  Jesus  fulfil  this  first  design  of  his 
public  life  ami  ministry? 

J.  He  healed  the  sick,  he  raised  the  dead,  he  preach- 
ed the  j;lad  tidings  of  salvation  to  the  poor,  he  set  about 
the  reformation  of  the  world,  and  all  this  without  noise 
ov  uproar;  and  he  received  several  testimonies  from 
lieaven.  Sec  these  characters  of  the  Messiah  foretold 
l)v  tiie  prophets,  /sw.  xxxv.  4,  5,  and  Ixi.  1,2,  and  xlii. 

2.     .Mai.  iii.  1,  2,  3,  and  exemnlified  in  Christ,  Matt.  xi. 

3 — 5,  and  chap.  v.  17 — "20,  and  xii.  19. 

18  ({.     But  (lid  not  Christ  preach  up  his  own  charac- 
r  as  the  Messiah,  or  anointed  Saviour  ? 
J].    Though  he  several  times  preached  that  he  was 

sent  from  God  ;  yet  he  very  seldom  declared  plainly 
that  he  was  the  M'^cssiah  ;  and  even  forbid  the  men  that 
knew  it,  to  publish  it  at  that  time,  nor  would  he  suffer  the 
devils  to  declare  it.     Matt.  xvi.  20.     Mark  i.  34. 

19  ({.  Wiiy  did  our  Saviour  so  long  abstiin  from  de- 
claring that  he  was  tb.e  Messiah  who  should  come  into 
tlie  world  ?  «,  ,    , 

J.  Partly  that  men  might  learn  his  office  and  charac- 
ter in  a  rational  way,  and  infer  that  he  was  the  Messiah 
by  his  doctrine  and  his  works  ;  and  partly  that  he  might 
not  expose  him  to  the  ra<:e  of  his  enemies,  and  to  death 
before  his  time.  '  Lulce  vii.  19 — 23.  ^ 

20  ({.  \Vhat  were  some  of  the  testimonielF which 
Christ  received  from  heaven  in  his  life  ? 

//.  Voices  from  heaven  at  several  times;  once  at  his 
baptism,  wldch  was  mentioned  before ;  once  among  the 
people,  in  answer  to  his  prayer  ;  and  once  on  the  mount 
of  transfiguration,  when  ^'Ioses  and  Elias  came  from 
heaven  to  attend  him. 

21  Q.  What  was  that  voice  which  came  in  answer  to 
his  prayer  ? 

J.  AVhen  Christ  prayed  in  public  that  God  his  Father 
would  glorify  his  name ;  there  was  an  answer  came  from 
heaven,  I  have  glorified  it,  and  I  will  glorify  it  again. 
John  xii.  28. 

22  Q.     What  was  the  transfiguration  ? 

.7      Jesus  went  up  into  a  l.iirh  mountain  with  three  of 
21*^ 


234  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Cliap.  25. 

his  disciples,  his  countenance  was  changed  all  glorious, 
and  his  raiment  shining  like  sun  beams;  Moses  and 
Elias  appeared  and  conversed  with  him,  and  from  a  bright 
cloud  broke  forth  a  voice.  This  is  my  beloved  Son^  hear 
him.     Matt,  xvii.  1 — 5. 


Sect.  II.     Of  the  Subjects  of  his  Preaehing,  his  Par- 
ables and  his  Disputes. 

23  Q.  What  was  the  second  part  and  design  of  his 
public  life  and  ministry. 

.4.  To  preach  and  teach  many  necessary  tiTiths  and 
duties  to  the  people.  Mark  i.  38.  Isaiah  Ixi.  1.  Luke 
iv.  18. 

24  Q.  In  what  manner  did  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
preach  to  the  world,  and  teach  mankind  ? 

A.  He  spake  several  things  to  them  in  public  sermons 
or  discourses,  others  in  free  conversation  or  dispute : 
sometimes  he  spake  in  plain  language,  at  otlier  times  by- 
way of  parable,  or  similitude.  Matt.  v.  2,  3,  &c.  and 
chap,  xiii.  3. 

25  Q.  What  were  some  of  the  chief  subjects  of  our 
Saviop-'s  public  preaching  ? 

j4.    These  that  follow,  namely, 

1.  He  explained  the  law  of  God  in  its  full  latitude, 
as  it  reaches  the  thoughts,  as  m  ell  as  words  and  actions, 
and  rescued  it  from  the  grievous  corruptions,  the  false 
glosses  and  mistakes  of  the  Jewish  teachers ;  and  by  this 
means  he  convinced  his  hearers  of  sin,  and  shewed  them 
the  need  of  a  Saviour.    Matt.  v.  6,  7.  chap.  ix.  12,  13. 

2.  He  taught  them  the  vanity  of  depending  upon  any 
outward  privileges,  as  being  the  children  of  Abraham!; 
he  shewed  them  the  danger  of  putting  ceremonies  and 
forms  of  any  kind,  in  the  room  of  real  and  practical 
godliness ;  he  severely  reproved  the  scribes  and  Pharisees 
on  this  account ;  and  assured  men  there  was  no  salvation 
for  them,  no  entrance  into  heaven,  without  being  born 
agaiHi  or  becoming  new  creatures.    See  John  iii.  3—?. 


i 


Sect  2.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY. 

c/mp.  viii.  33 — 41.  ^Matt.  vii.  24.  c/ia;7.vm.  12,  and  xxiii. 
13—33. 

3.  He  corrected  several  sinful  customs  and  practicesi, 
with  other  I'oolish  traditions  among  the  people ;  and  re- 
proved the  teachers  of  the  law  for  min^lin^i;  their  tradi- 
tions and  tlic  inventions  of  men  with  the  pure  a|]rpoint- 
ments  of  God.  Jlarfc  vii.  1 — 13.  John  ii.  13 — 17.  ^Matt. 
V.  vi.  and  vii. 

4.  He  called  the  people  aloud  to  repentance  of  every 
sin,  because  tlie  kingdom  of  the  Gospel  was  at  hand. 
See  JIatt.  iv.  17.     Luke  v.  32. 

5.  He  j;ave  particular  directions  for  the  practice  of 
many  duties,  namely,  spiritual  v/orship,  prayer,  depend- 
ence upon  God,  hearing  the  word,  giving  alms,  loving  our 
neighbours,  foi*giving  our  enemies,  &c.  ^Matt.  v.  vi,  vii. 
and  xiii. 

6.  He  preached  the  Gospel,  or  the  j^lad  tidiii^  of 
pardoning  grace,  to  sinners  who  repented  of  their  sins, 
and  believed  in  iiim ;  he  promised  tlie  assistance  of  the 
Holv  Spirit  to  them  tliat  asked  it  ot  God ;  he  represent- 
ed himself  as  sent  of  God,  ami  invited  all  men  to  come 
to  him,  and  trust  in  hisu,  that  they  might  be  saved. 
Luke  iv.  18,  21,  22,  and  xi.  9—13.  Matt.  v.  3—12,  vii. 
7,  &c.  and  xi.  28.    John  v.  vi.  vii.  and  viii. 

7.  He  revealed  the  things  of  the  future  and  invisible 
world,  the  resurrection  and  the  day  of  judgment,  heaven 
and  hell,  beyond  what  the  world  had  ever  known  before. 
2  Tim.  i.  10.     Matt.  v.  8,  12.  chap.  xiii.  and  xxv.  &c. 

8.  He  often  foretold  that  the  Jews  would  reject  him 
and  his  Gospel,  and  should  be  terribly  punishet'l  for  it; 
and  he  declared  that  the  Gentiles  would  receive  his  Gos- 
pel ;  and  said  many  things  to  prenare  the  wav  of  the 
Gentiles  into  the  church  or  kingdom  of  the  Messiah, 
because  the  Jews  had  such  violent  prejudices  against 
flieir  admission  into  it.  Matt.  viii.  12,  and  xx.  xxi.  Luke 
XV.     Matt.  XX.  40, 41,  and  xxiii.  38. 

9.  He  several  times  foretold  his  own  death,  his  resur- 
rection, and  his  future  glory,  and  liis  coming  to  raise  the 
dead,  and  to  judge  the  world.  Matt.  xxi.  xxiv.  and  xxv. 
John  v.  27—29,  xii.  23—34.    Matt,  xiu  40, 


256  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  ^3 

26  Q.  Did  Jesus  Christ  Ibretel  all  these  things  plain- 
ly and  openly  ? 

t3.  Wliat  lie  spake  by  way  of  prophecj^  in  private  to 
his  disciples,  he  spake  plainly  ;  but  what  he  spake  of  this 
kind  in  public  to  the  multitude,  was  often  (though  not 
always)  delivered  in  parables  and  similitudes.  Mark  iv. 
11,  32,  34.     Jiff  ft.  XX.  18--28. 

.  27  Q.  But  did  not  Christ  teach  the  great  and  glorious 
doctrine  of  his  ovin  death  as  a  sacrifice  or  ransom  for 
sinful  men,  in  the  course  of  his  public  ministry  ? 

A.  He  taught  this  privately  to  his  disciples,  to  whom 
he  spoke  move  freely  of  his  death  and  resurrection  to- 
ward the  end  of  his  life.  Matt.  xvi.  16 — 22.  But,  as  for 
wise  reasons  he  did  not  preach  publicly  and  plainly  to 
the  people  of  his  own  death  or  his  resurrection,  so  he 
scarce  ever  preached  in  public  and  in  plain  language 
those  great  doctrines  of  Christianity  that  depend  upon 
his  death  or  his  resurrection :  these  things  were  wisely 
reserved  for  the  ministry  of  his  apostles,  after  he  was 
actually  dead  and  risen,  and  ascended  to  heaven,  and 
had  poured  out  on  them  the  promised  Spirit.  Matt.  x. 
27,  and  Luke  xxiv.  45 — 59. 

28  Q.  What  were  some  of  the  most  remarkable 
among  the  parables  of  Jesus  Christ  ? 

.5.  The  parable  of  the  sower  and  the  seed ;  of  the 
tares  in  tlie  field  ;  of  the  merciless  servant ;  of  the  good 
Samaritan  ;  of  the  labourers  in  the  vineyard ;  of  the  wick- 
ed husbandmen  ;  of  the  ten  virgins ;  of  the  improvement 
of  talents ;  of  t]}e  prodigal  son ;  of  the  rich  man  and 
Lazarus  the  beggar. 

29  Q.  What  is  the  parable  of  the  sower  and  the 
seed  ? 

Ji.  As  the  seed  that  is  sown,  fallin*  on  different  sorts 
of  ground,  brings  forth  more  or  less  fruit,  or  no  fruit  at 
all ;  so  when  ministers  preach  the  Gospel,  the  word  be- 
comes more  or  less  fruitful,  or  unfruitful,  according  to 
the  good  or  evil  hearts  of  the  hearers.  Matt.  xiii.  1 — 23. 

SO  ^.     What  is  tlie  parable  of  the  tares  in  the  field  ? 

A.  As  the  enemy  had  sowed  tares  where  the  husband- 
man had  sown  wheat,  and  they  were  both  suffered  to 


SCKIPTURE  HISTORY. 


tloj 


grow  together  till  the  hiu-vest,  then  the  wheat  was  gath- 
ered into  the  barn»aml  the  tares  were  burnt ;  so  the  devil 
mingles  his  children  with  the  children  of  God  in  this 
world,  but  at  the  day  of  jud<;ineiit  they  shall  be  separa- 
ted ;  the  children  of  the  devil  sliall  be  cast  into  a  furnace 
of  tire,  and  the  children  of  God  shall  shine  in  the  king- 
dom of  tiieir  Father.    ^Vitt.  xiii.  24 — 43. 

ol  ^.  What  means  the  pai-ablc  of  the  merciless  ser- 
vant .- 

J.  Thougli  his  lord  forgave  hitn  ten  thousand  talents, 
yet  he  dealt  cruelly  with  Ids  fellow-servant  who  owed 
him  but  a!i  iiundred  pence,  and  cast  him  into  prison  till 
he  should  pay  it.  W  hen  the  lord  heard  of  it,  he  re- 
proved and  imprisoned  him  till  the  payment  of  his  debt; 
and  tlvjs  the  great  God,  who  is  ready  to  forgive  us  our 
innumerable  sin«,  will  deal  with  us,  if  we  for;^lve  not  our 
brethren  their  oftences  against  us.     Jfatt.  xviii.  21 — 35. 

3-Z  ^.  What  parable  is  that  which  is  called  The  good 
Samaritan?  "^ 

.1  When  a  Jew  was  abused  and  stripped,  and  wound- 
ed by  robbers,  and  left  helpless,  a  priest  and  a  Levite 
passed  by,  and  neglected  him,  but  a  Samaritan  took  care 
of  him,  and  carried  him  to  an  inn  for  his  recovery.  This 
Jesus  spake  to  shew  that  tl»e  Samaritan  treated  the  Jew 
as  a  neighbour  ought  to  do,  and  that  no  difterences  of 
opinion  should  hinder  !is  from  actions  of  common  hu- 
manity towards  otiier  men.     Luke  x.  30 — ?iQ. 

33.  (I.  What  is  the  desigii  of  the  parable  of  the  la- 
ijourers  in  tlie  vin  jyard  ?  • 

JL  The  labourers  who  were  called  at  the  eleventh 
hour,  throjgli  the  great  goodness  of  the  master,  received 
the  same  reward  as  those  who  were  calleil  in  at  the  first 
hour ;  even  so  the  Gentiles  should  be  called  into  the 
c!mrc!\  in  the  latter  days,  and  enjoy  equal  privileges  with' 
the  Jews,  who  had  been  called  many  ages  before  them. 
J^[att.  XV.  1--U3. 

34  Q.  What  is  the  parable  of  the  wicked  husband- 
men r 

d.  The  owner  of  a  vineyard  let  it  out  to  husband- 
mcn,  and  going  into  a  far  country,  fust  sent  his  servant?. 


238  SCRIPTURE   HISTORY.       Chap^23. 

and  at  last  Ins  son,  to  receive  the  fruits ;  but  thej  beat 
and  slew  both  the  servants  and  tiie  son.  Upon  which  at 
the  return  of  the  owner,  these  husbandmen  were  destroy- 
ed, and  the  vineyard  let  out  to  others :  bj  which  our  Sa- 
viour designed  to  shew  how  the  Jews  brought  no  fruit  to 
God,  notwithstanding  all  their  advantages ;  that  thej 
abused  his  prophets,  and  would  slay  his  Son;  that  God 
would  turn  them  out  of  his  church,  and  give  his  Gospel  to 
the  Gentiles.     Matt.  xxi.  33 — 43. 

35  Q.     What  is  the  parable  of  the  ten  virgins? 

J},  Some  of  these  virgins  were  wise,  and  some  were 
foolish  ;  but  they  all  slept  while  the  bridegroom  tarried, 
and  at  midnight  when  the  bridegroom  came,  even  the 
wise  were  something  unprepared,  but  the  foolish  were 
shut  out  from  tlie  wedding:  whence  our  Saviour  draws 
this  advice;  Watch  ye,  for'  ye  know  not  the  day  or  the 
hour  when  the  Son  of  man  cometh.    Matt.  xxv.  1 — 13. 

56  q.    What  is  the  parable  of  the  talents  ? 

w^.  Those  servants  who  were  entrusted  with  several 
talents,  and  had  improved  them,  were  rewarded  in  pro- 
portion to  their  improvement :  but  he  who  laid  up  his 
talent  in  a  napkin,  and  made  no  improvement  of  it,  was 
cast  into  outer  darkness  as  an  unprofitable  servant. 
The  plain  design  of  this  parable  is,  to  shew  the  necessity 
of  diligence  in  the  improvement  of  all  our  mercies  and 
advantages.    Matt.  xxv.  14 — 30.     Luke  xix.  12 — 27. 

37  ((.     What  is  the  parable  of  the  prodigal  son  ? 

A.  The  younger  son  of  a  family  grew  prodigal,  and 
wasted  his  estate  in  rioting  abroad ,'^Vvhile  the  elder  son 
lived  at  home  and  served  his  father  ;  but  upon  the  return 
of  the  prodigal,  and  his  repentance,  his  father  received 
him  with  much  coujpassion  and  joy:  at  which  his  elder 
brother  was  angry.  So  shall  the  mercy  of  God  be  shewn 
to  the  repenting  Gentiles,  when  they  shall  forsake  their 
sins  and  return  to  God,  though  the  Jews  will  be  envious 
and  quarrel  with  this  conduct  of  providence.  Luke 
XV.  11— 32. 

38  q.  AVhat  is  the  parable  of  the  rich  man  and 
Lazarus  ^ 

J,    The  rich  man,  who  spent  his  days  in  luxury,  and 


Sect.  2.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  i239 

\\  as  cruel  to  the  poor,  died,  and  went  to  hell ;  but  Laza- 
lus,  a  bef^war,  was  relijiious,  and  went  to  heaven.  The 
rich  man  in  his  torments  would  fain  have  Lazarus  sent 
to  warn  his  kindred  of  tlieir  danger :  but  Abraham  tells 
him,  that  if  t/iey  will  not  hear  Moses  and  the  prophets, 
neither  will  they  be  persuaded  to  leave  their  s'lnsy  though 
one  rose  from  the  dead.    Luke  xvi.  19 — 31. 

39  Q.  How  could  the  hearers  of  Christ  understand 
tliese  parables  ? 

t^.  There  were  many  of  them  which  they  did  not 
understand :  but  when  they  were  retired  from  the  multi- 
tude, Christ  expounded  the  parables  to  his  disciples. 
.VarAciv.  9— 12,  34. 

40  Q.  Besides  these  public  sermons  and  parables, 
had  not  Jesus  Christ  some  convereation  and  disputes 
with  several  sorts  of  persons  ? 

c-'?.  Yes ;  he  had  some  discourses  with  the  multitude, 
and  with  his  own  disciples,  which  would  be  too  long  to 
repeat ;  and  besides  tft8e,he  had  also  some  debates  with 
Nicodemus,  with  the  woman  of  Samaria,  with  the  Hero- 
dians,  with  the  Sadducees,  with  the  Pharisees,  and  doc- 
tors of  the  law,  witli  the  ruler  of  the  synagogue,  and  the 
chief  priests  and  elders  of  the  people. 

41  O.     What  was  his  discourse  with  Nicodemus? 
A,     He  taught  Nicodemus,  who  came  to  him  by  night, 

that  a  man  must  be  born  ae,ain  ;  that  is,  he  must  have 
his  old  sinful  nature  renewed  into  holiness,  if  he  would 
see  the  kin^^dom  of  God :  and  that  God  sent  his  only 
begotten  Son  to  save  as  many  as  would  believe  on  him. 
John  iii.  1 — 21. 

42  q.  What  was  our  Lord's  discourse  with  the 
woman  of  Samaria  ? 

^.  He  told  her  of  her  living  in  the  sin  of  fornication : 
and  assured  her,  the  time  was  just  at  hand  when  God 
would  not  regard  i>ersons  ever  the  more  on  account  of 
the  places  in  which  they  worshipped  him,  whether  it 
were  at  the  temple  of  Jerusalem  or  Samaria  ;  but  on  the 
account  of  the  spiritual  worship  which  they  paid  him  from 
their  hearts  ;  and  he  let  her  know  plainly  that  he  was  the 
Messiah.    John  iv.  7 — 26. 


240  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  23. 

43  Q.  What  discourse  had  Christ  with  the  Herodi- 
ans  r 

J,  They  inquired  of  him,  whether  it  was  lawful  to 
give  tribute  to  Csesar  ?  that  if  he  denied  it,  they  might 
accuse  him  to  the  Romans ;  if  he  asserted  it,  they  might 
lender  him  odious  to  the  Jews,  and  particularly  the 
Pharisees  ;  but  Jesus  gave  them  a  very  wise  answer,  and 
avoided  their  snares,  by  bidding  them  reyider  to  Ccesar 
the  things  that  are  Caesar's,  and  unto  God  the  things 
that  are  God's,    Matt.  xxii.  15 — 22. 

44  Q.     What  dispute  had  Christ  M^ith  the  Sadduce^  ? 
Jl,    The  Sadducees  thought  to  ridicule  him  about  the 

doctrine  of  the  resurrection,  by  inquiring,  to  which  of  her 
seven  husbands  a  wife  would  belong  in  that  day  ?  But, 
as  he  proved  the  resurrection  to  tliem  from  the  law  of 
Moses,  so  he  assured  them  that  there  was  no  such  rela- 
tion as  marriage  in  that  state.    Matt,  23 — S3. 

45  Q.  W^hat  disputes  did  our  Saviour  hold  with  the 
Pharisees  and  the  scribes,  and  th^eachers  of  the  law  ? 

»B.  He  had  many  disputes  with  them  about  their  ex- 
cessive fondness  for  ceremonies  and  traditions,  wherein 
he  shewed  that  they  made  void  the  law  of  God  by  their 
own  invented  tradition  ;  and  that  the  duties  of  morality, 
righteousness,  and  goodness,  were  more  valuable  even 
than  the  ceremonies  of  God's  own  appointment,  and  are 
to  be  preferred  where  they  may  happen  to  interfere  :  for^ 
God  will  have  mercy y  and  not  sacrifice.  Matt.  xv. 
1 — 20.  chap,  xxiii.  and  xii.  1 — 7, 

46  Q.  What  was  his  debate  with  the  ruler  of  the 
synagogue  and  other  Jews  ? 

^.  About  his  healing  diseased  persons  on  the  sab- 
bath-day, at  which  they  cavilled ;  but  he  proved  to  them, 
that  it  was  a  very  lawful  thing ;  even  from  the  care  tliat 
God  took  of  cattle  on  the  sabbath-day  in  the  law  of  Mo- 
ses.   Luke  xiii.  14 — 17. 

47  Q.  What  controversy  had  Christ  with  the  chief 
priests  and  elders  of  the  people  ? 

A.  About  his  own  authority  for  preacliing,  wherein 
J>e  silenced  them,  by  inquh-ing  of  them,  what  authority 


Sect  S.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  ^1 

had  John  the  baptist,  whom  all  th< 
as  a  prophet  ?    Matt  xxi.  23 — 37 


had  John  the  baptist,  whom  all  the  people  had  esteemed 


Sect.  III.     The  Miracles  of  Christ. 

48  Q.  Thus  we  have  fmislied  the  two  first  de^ns 
ot  the  public  life  and  ministry  of  Christ,  namely^is 
appearing  with  the  character  of  the  Messiah  upon  him, 
and  his  teaching  the  people.  What  is  the  third  con- 
siderable design  of  his  public  life  and  ministry  ? 

^i.  To  work  miracles  for  the  confirmation  of  his 
doctrine,  and  for  the  proof  of  his  being  sent  from  God 
to  be  tlie  Saviour  of  the  world. 

49  Q.  What  were  some  of  the  chief  of  the  miracles 
vvhich  our  Saviour  wrought  for  this  purpose? 

Ji.     These  that  follow  : 

1.  He  turned  six  vessels  full  of  water  into  excellent 
wine.     John  ii.  7 — 11. 

2.  He  fed  five  thousand  persons  once  with  five 
loaves,  and  two  small  fishes ;  and  again,  he  fed  four 
thousand  with  seven  loaves,  and  at  both  times  tliere 
were  several  baskets  of  fragments.    Matt,  xiv.  and  xv. 

3.  He  gave  sight  to  tlie  blind,  hearing  to  the  deaf, 
speech  to  the  dumb,  strength  and  vigour  to  lame  and 
withered  limbs.  Mark  viii.  John  ix.  Mark  vii. 
Matt,  XX.    John  v. 

4.  He  healed  the  leprosy,  tlie  fever,  the  palsy,  the 
dropsy,  and  other  distempers,  by  a  word  of  command. 
Mat{.  viii.  and  ix.     Mark  i.     Liike  xiv. 

5.  He  walked  on  tlie  water,  and  suppressed  a  storm 
at  sea  by  a  reproof  given  to  the  seas  and  winds.  Matt. 
xiv.  25,  and  viii.  29. 

6.  He  deliverctl  several  ])ersons  from  the  possession 
of  the  devil,  by  rebuking  the  evil  spirits,  and  command- 
ins;  tliem  to  depart.     Luke  iv.     Matt.  viii.     Mark  i. 

y.  He  raised  a  few  persons  from  tl«e  dead,  namely, 
the  ruler's  daut^hter  in  the  chamber,  tiie  \vi<'on's  son  in 
the  stieet,  as  he  was  carried  to  his  burial,  and  4>^zaru8 


24^  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  25, 

was  called  out  of  his  grave  when  he  had  been  dead  four 
days.    Mark  ix.     Lufce  vii.    John  xi. 

50  Q.  What  is  there  remarkable  in  these  miracles 
of  our  Saviour? 

J.    Tliese  four  things : 

1.  That  almost  every  wondrous  work  performed  by 
Christ  was  a  work  of  love  and  goodness,  whereas  many 
i^^he  wonders  of  Moses  were  works  of  destruction. 
^^.  His  miracles  were  very  numerous,  so  that  man- 
kind could  not  be  mistaken  in  all  of  them,  thpugh  they 
should  object  against  some. 

3.  They  were  wrought  in  many  places  of  the  Jewish 
nation,  and  several  of  them  before  the  eyes  of  the  mul- 
titude, who  could  attest  them. 

4.  They  were  sucli  miracles  as  were  foretold  should 
be  wrought  in  the  days  of  the  Messiah ;  and  therefore 
he  continually  appeals  to  his  miraculous  works  for  a 
-testimony  of  his  commission  from  God.  John  x.  37, 38, 
did  p.  XV.  24,  and  xiv.  11. 


Sect.  IV.     The  Exmnple  of  Christ. 

51  Q.  Let  us  proceed  now  and  intjuire,  What  was 
tlie  fourth  thing  designed  in  the  public  life  and  ministry 
of  Christ  ? 

J).  To  giv€  an  example  to  the  world  of  universal 
holiness  and  goodness.  John  xiii.  15.  1  Cor.  xi.  1. 
Jfiom.  XV.  5. 

52  Q.  What  are  some  of  the  more  remarkable  vir- 
tues, graces  or  duties,  wherein  Christ  appears  to  be  our 
example  ? 

J.  1.  He  sought  the  public  glory  of  God  with  the 
warmest  zeal,  and  vindicated  the  honour  of  his  Father's 
appointment  against  the  corruptions  of  men.  John  viii. 
50.    chap. xvii.  4,  and  ii.  16,  IT.     JMatt,  xxiii. 

2.  He  was  sti  ictly  observant  of  all  the  commands  of 
God,  even  tlie  ceremonial  as  well  as  the  moral :  he  ob- 
served t))^  sabbath,  he  came  up  to  the  feast  at  Jenisalem. 


Sect.  4.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  24^ 

he  desired  to  be  baptized  :  he  came  to  fulfil  tlie  law  of 
Gmi,  and  made  it  his  meat  and  his  drink.  Matt.  iii.  15, 
and  V.  ir.     John  xiv.  31,  chap,  iv.  34,  and  vii.  10. 

3.  He  was  frequent  and  fervent  in  religious  exercises, 
prayer  and  praise.  Luke  vi.  1^2,  and  xi.  1,  2,  Matt,  xiv. 
iJS,  and  xi.  25. 

4.  He  was  eminent  for  heavenly  mindedness,  self-de- 
nial as  to  the  comforts  of  this  life,  and  trust  in  God  for 
his  daily  bread  :  he  was  so  poor  that  the  good  women 
ministered  to  him  out  of  thar  substance,  and  he  had  not 
wliere  to  lay  his  head.     Luke  ix.  58,  and  viii.  3. 

5.  He  bore  the  sojtows  from  the  l.and  of  God  with 
the  highest  submission,  and  the  vilest  injuries  from  men 
>vith  perfect  patience  and  meekness  ;  not  returning  rail- 
iBg  for  railing,  but  blessing  those  that  persecuted  him. 
1  Pet.  iL  21—23.  Matt.  xi.  29.  Luke  xxii.  42,  and 
xxiiL  34. 

6.  He  gave  fhe  most  glorious  instances  of  goodwill 
to  men,  compassion  to  the  miserable,  and  love  to  friends, 
to  strangers,  and  to  enemies.  He  often  had  pity  on  the 
multitudes  that  followed  him ;  he  travelled  about,  and 
took  all  occasions  to  do  good  to  the  bodies  and  the  souls  ol" 
men  :  to  their  bodies,  by  his  healing  and  feeding  them ; 
and  to  their  souls,  by  his  preaching  and  conversation; 
and  at  last  he  laid  down  his  life  for  sinners.  Acts  x.  38. 
Matt.  ix.  3C,  and  xiv.  14.     John  xv.  13.  Bom,  v.  6,  8,  10. 

7.  He  was  obedient  to  his  parents,  paying  them  hon- 
our ;  and  obedient  to  magistrates,  paying  tax  and  tribute. 
Luke\\.5\.    Matt  \\\\.  9.4. 

8.  H<»  was  humble  and  familiar  with  the  poor,  and 
even  with  publicans  and  sintiers  for  their  goou.  Matt. 
xi.  29,  and  ix.  1 1.  He  wasljed  the  feet  of  his  own  disci- 
ples.    .John  xiii.  14. 

9.  He  was  stediast  in  resistin?;  the  temptations  of  the 
devil,  and  opposing  the  inicjuiti'es  of  men.  Matt.  xiv. 
1 — 11.  Heb.  ii.  18,  and  xii.  1,  2.  -Va^.  xxiii.  John 
ii.  13,  &c. 

10.  He  was  piiident  and  watchful  against  the  snares 
of  his  enemies,  and  careful  to«*;ive  them  no  just  occasions 
against  him :  thit>  appears  in  the  wisdqm  ot  his  discotJr* 


M4  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  23^ 

se^,  and   his  daily  conduct.    John  vii.   3^  and  xi.  54. 
Matt.  xvii.  27. 


Sect.  V.    Bis  calling  the  Apostles^,  and  instructing 
them. 

55  Q,  What  was  the  fifth  part  of  the  business  and 
design  of  his  public  ministry? 

Ji.  To  call  his  apostie^s,  and  instruct  them  in  their 
great  commission  of  preaching  the  Gospel. 

54  Q,  How  many  preachers  did  our  Saviour  send 
forth  ?  ^ 

ti.  lie  first  sent  twelve,  who  were  called  apostles, 
wliom  he  designed  to  make  his  chief  ministers  ;  and  he 
afterwards  sent  seventy  through  the  land  of  Israel  on 
ihQ  same  errand  of  preaching  the  Gospel.  Matt.  x.  1. 
Luke  vi.  IS,  and  x.  1. 

55  Q.  What  was  the  commission  that  Christ  gave 
them  all  ? 

Jl.  To  preach  the  Gospel,  to  heal  the  sick,  and  to 
cast  out  devils.     Matt.'x.  1 — 8.     Luke  x.  9,  17. 

56  Q.     What  were  the  names  of  the  twelve  apostles  ? 
A.     Simon  Peter,  and  Andrew  his  brother,  who  were    ^ 

fishermen ;  James  and  John,  the  sons  of  Zebedee,  who 
were  also  fishers;  Philip  and  Bartholomew,*  Thomas, 
and  Matthew,  the  publican,  who  is  also  called  Levi ; 
James  the  son  of  Alpheus,  who  is  called  the  Lord's 
brother ;  and  Jude  the  brother  of  James,  who  is  also 
called  Lebbeus  and  Thaddeus;  Simon  the  Canaanite, 
who  is  called  Zelotes;t  and  Judas  Iscariot,  who  after- 
ward betrayed  his  master.  Matt.  x.  Q — 4.  Luke  vi. 
14—16.     Gal.  i.  19. 


*  Some  suppose  Bartholomew  to  be  the  same  with  Nathanael. 

+  Simon  was  not  a  Canaanite  by  nation,  for  the  apostles  were 
ull  Jews  :  some  therefore  think  it  is  only  the  Hebrew  or  Syriac 
word  Cana,  which  signifies  a  Zealot^  with  a  Greek  terminatiorx 
added. 


feect.  5.  S5C11IPTURE  HISTORY.  243 

57  Q.  Had  these  messengers  of  Christ  success  in 
their  work  ? 

«^.  Yes,  they  had  some  success ;  for  the  seventy 
returned  with  joy,  saying,  Lordj  even  the  devils  are  suO' 
ject  unto  us  thruua^h  thij  name.    Luke  x.  17. 

58  ^.  How  did  he  train  up  his  twelve  apostles  for 
their  future  service  ? 

Ji.  They  were  very  frequently  attending  upon  him, 
and  dwelt  much  with  him,  before  and  after  their  first 
mission  abroad  ;  so  that  they  enjoyed  his  private  instruc- 
tions, his  prayers,  and  his  example  continually.  MhtL 
X.  27.     Luke  xi.  1.    JIavk  iv.  34. 

59  Q.  What  peculiar  instructions  did  he  give  his 
apostles  r 

.?.  1.  He  explained  the  parables  to  them  at  home, 
which  he  spake  to  the  people,  and  acquainted  them  in 
private  what  they  should  preach  in  public.  JIatt.  x.  27. 
•Mark  iv.  34. 

2.  He  foretold  they  must  expect  difficulties  and  per- 
secutions, but  he  promised  the  aids  of  his  Spirit,  and  hi* 
own  presence  witn  them,  and  a  large  reward  in  heaven. 
JIatt.  X.  16 — 33,  and  xxviii.  20. 

3.  He  charged  them  to  love  all  men,  and  particularly, 
to  love  one  another ;  and  not  to  aft'ect  dominion  and  au- 
thority over  one  another,  so  particularly,  as  if  he  design- 
ed to  preclude  the  popish  errour  of  St.  Peter  being  made 
the  prince  of  the  apostles.  John  xiii.  34,  35,  Mark 
XX.  25. 

4.  If  any  house  welcomed  and  received  them,  tliey 
were  ordered  to  pronounce  the  blessing  of  peace  upon 
that  house ;  but  when  any  town  refused  to  receive  their 
message,  they  were  commanded  to  sliake  oft*  the  dust  of 
their  feet  as  a  testimony  against  them.  Matt.  x.  11,  15. 
Luke  X.  54,  55. 

5.  He  told  them  that  he  Mas  the  Messiah,  and  that 
he  came  to  give  his  life  a  ransom  for  men,  that  he  diould 
be  crucified  and  put  to  death  at  Jerusalem,  and  that  he 
should  rise  again  the  third  da  v.  Matt,  xvi.  16 — 22,  and 
XX.  28.  \ 

6.  He  prayed  with  them  often,  and  taught  them  how 


546  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  25. 

to  pray,  both  in  their  younger  and  their  more  advanced 
state  of  knowledge.     Luke  xi.  1,  &c.    John  xvi.  23,  24. 

7.  He  gave  them  many  admirable  discourses  before 
Jiis  death  ;  he  foretold  \  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem ; 
and  indulged  their  presence  with  him  in  his  most  excel- 
lent prayer  to  God  just  before  his  sufferings.  See  Matt. 
xxiv.    John  xiv.  xv.  xvi.  and  xvii. 

8.  He  ordered  them  after  his  death  to  tarry  at  Jeru- 
salem till  they  should  receive  the  proniised  Spirit  to  fit 
them  for  their  further  service.     Luke  xxiv.  49. 

60  Q.  W  ere  there  any  of  these  apostles  that  seemed 
to  be  his  favourites  r 

^.  If  there  were  any,  they  were  Peter,  James,  and 
John  ;  for  they  were  admitted  to  be  present  in  the  room 
when  he  raised  the  ruler's  daughter ;  and  in  the  holy 
mount  when  he  was  transfigured  ;  and  in  the  garden, 
when  he  sustained  his  agony :  besides,  that  John  was 
called  the  beloved  disciple,  and  leaned  on  Jesus's  bosom 
at  the  holy  supper.  Mark  v.  37,  38.  Matt,  xvii.  1,  and. 
xxvi.  37,    John  xiii.  33. 


Sect.  VI.    His  S}}poinfment  or  Institution  of  the  two 
Sacraments. 

61  Q.  What  is  the  last  part  of  the  public  ministry 
of  Christ? 

^,  His  appointment  of  the  two  sensible  ordinances, 
which  are  called  Sacraments,  namely.  Baptism^  and  the 
Lord's  Supper^ 

62  Q.     When  did  he  appoint  baptism  ? 

Jl.  It  is  supposed  that  he  confirmed  and  practised 
the  baptism  of  John  in  his  life-time,  that  is,  the  baptism 
of  repentance  for  the  remission  of  sins ;  but  doubtless 
with  this  constant  requirement,  that  they  should  believe 
on  him  as  a  Prophet  sent  from  God.  See  Matt.  iii.  11. 
Acts  xix.  4.    Matt.  iv.  17.    John  iv.  1. 


Sect.  6.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  247 

It  may  justly  be  doubted,  whether  our  Saviour  always  from 
th6  begimliiig  required  the  belief  aiul  profession  of  him  to  be 
the  Messiah,  as  a  necessary  thing  in  order  to  become  ouo  of  his 
disciple?,  and  to  receive  his  baptism,  in  those  early  days ;  since 
he  studiously  avoided  the  preaching  up  his  own  character  as  the 
^Icssiah,  and  concealed  it  from  the  public  nolice.  Mnlt.  xvi.  20. 
But  after  his  resurrection,  and  new  instituted  form  of  baptism^ 
none  were  to  be  baptized  but  those  Avho  professed  Jesus  to  b^'. 
If  Christ,  or  the  Messiah. 

63  ^.  Did  he  make  any  alteration  in  tlie  form  of 
baptism  afterwards  ? 

^9.  After  his  resurrection,  just  before  his  ascension  to 
heaven,  he  bid  his  disciples,  Go-  teach  fill  nations,  hap- 
tizins:  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son, 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.    Matt,  xxviii.  19. 

64  ^.     When  did  he  appoint  tiie  Lord's  supper  ? 

•^.  Tiie  same  night  in  which  he  was  betrayed,  which 
was  just  after  the  feast  of  the  pass-over,  and  a  few  hours 
fjefore  his  death.     1    Cor.  \u  23. 

65  Q,  How  did  CInist  appoint  this  ordinance  to  be 
performed  ? 

.^.  Jesus  took  bread,  and  blessed  it,  and  brake  it,  and 
^ave  it  to  the  disciples,  and  said.  Take,  eat,  thiA  is  my 
body,  which  is  broken  for  you  :  and  he  took  the  cup,  and 
t«;ave  thanks,  and  gave  it  to  them,  sayinc:.  Drink  ye  all  of 
it,  for  this  is  my  blood  of  the  J^Teiv  Testament  which  is 
shed  for  many  for  the  remission  of  sins  ;  then  he  said, 
This  do  in  remembrance  of  me  :  and  afterward  he  sung 
an  hymn.    Matt.  xxvi.  26.     1  Cor.  xi.  24. 

66  Ql  Do  tliese  ordinances  of  the  Gospel  come  in 
the  room  of  any  of  the  ceremonies  of  the  Jewish  law  ? 

J}.  It  has  been  generally  supposed  that  baptism  comes 
in  the  room  of  circumcision,  and  the  Lord's  supper  in 
the  room  of  the  pass-over :  but  the  proof  of  this  does  not 
belong  to  this  place. 

67  ^.  How  long  is  the  ordinance  of  baptism  to  coiJt 
tinue  ? 

J.  Till  the  end  of  the  world  ;  for  our  Saviour,  upon 
giving;  his  apostles  and  ministei's  commission  to  teach 
and  baptize,  promises  to  be  wiUi  them  to  the  end  of  the 
worlds    Matt,  xxviii.  20, 


248  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.         Chap.  2$, 

68  Q.  How  long  is  the  ordinance  of  the  supper  to 
continue  ? 

*ll.  He  not  only  bid  them  do  this  in  remembrance  of 
him,  but  St.  Paul  saith,  Hereby  ye  shew  forth  the  Lord's 
death  till  he  come  ;  that  is,  till  Christ  come  to  judge  the 
world.     1  Cor.  xi.  24,  25,  26. 


Sect.  VII.     Remarkable    Occurrences  in  the  Life  of 
Christ, 

69  Q.  What  other  remarkable  occurrences  are  re- 
corded in  the  life  of  Christ,  besides  those  that  have  been 
mentioned  ? 

•4.    These  that  follow,  namely, 

1.  When  Jesus  Christ  healed  the  servant  of  the  cen- 
turian  at  Capernaum,  he  only  sent  a  message  of  healing 
by  his  master,  without  going  near  him  himself,  to  shew 
that  he  had  power  over  diseases  at  a  distance,  and  could 
command  them  to  depart.    Matt.  viii.  5 — 13. 

2.  When  he  cast  many  devils  out  of  tlie  man  of 
Gadara,  who  lived  among  the  tombs,  the  devils  asked 
leave  to  enter  into  a  herd  of  swine;  and  when  Jesus 
permitted  them,  they  drove  the  herd  of  swine  down  a 
ftteep  place  into  the  sea,  and  drowned  them  ;  upon  which 
tiie  people  desired  Christ  to  depart  out  of  their  coasts. 
Mark  V.  1 — 17. 

3.  When  Jesus  healed  the  man  of  the  palsy  at  Na- 
zareth, his  own  city,  he  forgave  his  sins,  and  then  cured 
his  distemper,  as  a  proof  of  his  power  to  forgive  sin. 
Matt.  ix.  1—8. 

4.  When  the  woman  came  to  be  cured  of  her  bleed- 
ing, with  a  strong  belief  of  his  pov/er  and  mercy,  she 
t)nly  touched  the  hem  of  his  garment,  and  Jesus  pro- 
nounced that  her  faith  had  made  her  whole*  MatP.  ix. 
20— -22. 

5.  He  went  through  a  corn-field  with  his  disciples  on 
the  sabbath,  and  defended  them  in  their  plucking  of  ears 
of  corn,  and  rubbing,  and  eating,  from  the  accusation  of 


Sect.  7.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  U9 

the  Pharisees,  who  pretended  this  was  a  breach  of  the 
sabbath.     Matt.  xii.  1—8. 

6.  When  the  Jews  demanded  a  sign  of  him,  he  re- 
fused to  wive  them  any  but  the  sign  of  the  prophet  Jonah, 
that  as  Jonah  was  three  days  and  nights  in  the  tvhale's 
belbj^  so  the  Son  of  nmn  should  he  three  days  and  nights 
in  the  ^rave.     Slatt.  xii.  SH — -10. 

7.  When  he  was  ,told  that  his  mother  and  his  bretli- 
ren  stood  without,  and  wanted  to  speak  with  him,  lie 
took  occasion  to  say,  that  whosoever  should  do  the  will 
of  his  Father,  were  indeed  his  nearest  relations,  his 
brother,  his  sister,  and  his  mother.    Matt,  xii.- 40; — 50. 

8.  Though  he  wrought  many  miracles  in  his  life,  ye\ 
he  wrought  but  few  of  them  in  liis  own  country,  because 
they  despised  him  as  the  son  of  a  carpenter,  and  would 
not  believe  in  him.    Matt.  xiii.  54— o8. 

9.  When  Jesus  walked  upon  the  watei-  towards  his 
disciples  in  a  storm,  he  called  Peter  out  of  the  ship  tO' 
w^alk  upon  the  water  too,  and  reproved  him  for  his  fear- 
fulness  and  unbelief  when  he  began  to  sink.  Matt.  xiv. 
04 — 32. 

10.  He  commended  Peter  for  his  confession  of  him 
as  the  Son  of  the  living  God,  and  promised  to  build  liis 
church  upon  this  rock,  this  confession  of  Peter :  but 
presently  after  he  told  his  disciples  of  his  sufterings  and 
death,  and  reproved  Peter  severely  for  wishing  that 
Christ  mis;ht  not  suffer  and  die.     Matt.  xvi.  16—23. 

11.  When  tribute  money  was  required  of   him  aU^ 
Capernaum,  he  sent  Peter  to  catch  a  fish,  and  told  him 
he  should  find  money  in  the  mouth  o^  it,  which  he  did, 
and  paid  it  to  those  tliat  gathered  tlie  tax.    Matt.  xvii. 
04 07. 

12.  When  little  children  were  brought  to  him  that 
he  should  touch  them,  his  disciples  rebuked  those  that 
brought  them:  but  Jesus  took  them  in  his  arms  and 
blessed  them,  and  said,  Of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God. 
Markn.  13— IG. 

IS.  When  a  rich  yoang  man  inquired  of  him  trhat  he 
should  do  to  obtain  eternal  life?  he  tried  him  by  saying,^ 
*keep  the  commandments,  or  do  this  and  live  ;  for  the 


250  SCRIPTURE   HISTORY.       Chap.  2S. 

man  that  doth  them  shall  live  by  them  ;  as  Rom.  x.  5. 
But  wlien  the  joung  man  was  so  confident  of  his  own 
righteousness,  and  so  little  sensible  of  his  imperfections, 
as  to  replj.  Ml  these  have  I  kept  from  my  youlh  :  ivhat 
do  I  lack  more?  Our  Lord  then  put  him  to  a  further 
trial,  bid  him  sell  what  estate  he  had,  give  to  the  poor, 
and  follow  him  as  one  of  his  disciples.  At  this  the 
young  man  went  away  sorrou'ful,  because  he  had  great 
possessions :  whence  Jesus  took  occasion  to  say.  It  was 
liard  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
Mutt.  x\x,  U}^M. 

14.  When  James  and  John  desired  to  be  made  chief 
in  his  kingdom,  and  to  sit  on  his  right  hand  and  on  his  left, 
Jesus  took  occasion  to  suppress  ambition  amongst  all  his 
disciples,  and  said.  Whoever  will  be  chief  amongst  yoUy 
let  him  be  your  servant'^  as  the  Son  of  man  came  not  to 
be  served  but  to  serve,  and  to  give  his  life  a  ransom  for 
many.    Matt.  xx.  20 — 28. 

15.  As  he  was  travelling  from  Galilee  to  Jerusalem, 
Samaria  lay  in  his  way,  and  when  the  Samaritans  would 
not  receive  him,  some  of  his  disciples  would  have  called 
for  fire  from  heaven  imon  them,  as  Elias  did :  but  he  se- 
verely reproved  them,  saying,  they  knew  not  what  man- 
ner of  spirit  they  were  of^  for  the  Son  of  man  came 
to  save  men's  lives,  and  not  to  destroy  them.  Luke  ix. 
51—56. 

16.  When  our  Saviour  was  entertained  at  Bethany, 
he  gently  reproved  Martha  for  being  too  much  cumbered 
with  care  to  entertain  and  feast  him,  and  commended 
her  sister  Mary,  who  sat  at  Jesus's  feet,  and  heard  his 
words :  Mary  hath  chosen  that  good  part  which  shall 
not  be  taken  away  from  her,    Luke  v.  38—42. 

17.  When  Jesus  raised  Lazarus  from  the  dead,  he 
vi'ent  to  the  grave  in  company  with  Martha  and  Mary, 
his  two  sisters,  and  several  Jews :  he  bid  them  take  away 
the  stone  from  the  moutii  of  the  cave  and  prayed  to  his 
Father,  and  tlien  commanded  Lazarus  to  come  forth,  who 
had  been  dead  four  days  ;  and  Lazarus  obeyed  him  and 
came  forth.    John  xi. " 

18.  The  Jews  used  to  travel  on  foot  from  place  to 


>ect.r.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  251 

place,  ye(  when  he  went  up  to  the  last  feast  at  Jerusalem, 
he  rode  into  the  citv  upon  the  colt  of  an  ass,  that  the 
prophecy  of  Zechanah  might  be  fulfilled,  Zech.  ix.  10, 
;nid  a  great  multitude  attended  him  as  in  triumph,  crying, 
ff'jsaunah  to  the  Son  of  David  :  so  that  the  children 
learned  the  song,  and  repeated  it  in  the  temple.  Matt, 
■w'u  1—6. 

19.  When  he  found  in  the  temple  those  that  sold 
oxen,  and  sheep,  and  doves,  and  the  changers  of  money, 
he  made  a  scourge  of  small  cords,  and  tlrove  them  all 
out  of  the  temple,  and  overthrew  the  tables,  with  the 
money  on  them :  and  said.  It  is  writieriy  my  house  shall 
be  called  the  house  of  prayer ^  but  ye  have  made  it  a  deii 
of  thieves,  and  he  went  out  of  the  city,  and  lodged  tliat 
night  at  Bethany.     Matt.  xxi.  13,  13,  17. 

20.  When  he  returned  from  Bethany  the  next  morn- 
ing, he  cursed  a  fig-tree  that  had  only  leaves  and  no  fruit 
on  it,  to  shew  the  doom  of  fniitless  professors  of  religion ; 
and  presently  the  fig-tree  withcreu  away.    This  is  said 

^f^to  be  the  only  miracle  of  destruction  that  Jesus  wrought, 
^  for  aM   the   rest  were   miracles  of  goodness.      Matt. 
xxi.  17 — 20. 


Conclusion  of  this  Chapter. 

70  Q.  After  we  have  heard  this  brief  account  of  the 
transactions  of  the  life  of  Christ,  tell  me  what  was  the 
sum  of  that  religion  which  Christ  taught  during  his  life  ? 

.J.     It  consisted  chiefly  in  these  few  articles: 

1.  lie  confirmed  the  "doctrine  of  the  erne  true  God, 
and  the  revelation  of  his  mind  and  will  to  men  by  Moses 
and  the  prophets. 

2  He  explained  the  moral  law,  and  enforced  the  ob- 
fcer^ance  of  it  forever;  and  summed  it  up  in  short  in  two 
great  commandments,  namely.  Love  God  with  all  your 
neartt  and  Iovp  your  neighbour  as  yourself. 

S.  He  continued  the  observance  of  the  ceremonial 
Jaw  for  the  present,  tliat  is,  wheresoever  it  did  not  inter- 
fere with  the  duties  of  the  moral  law  ;  but  where  it  did 


^52  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  24. 

interfere,  he  taught  that  the  moral  law  was  always  to  be 
preferred. 

4.  He  required  repentance  for  sin,  and  faith  in  him- 
self, as  the  great  Prophet  who  came  to  reveal  the  grace 
of  God  to  man,  both  for  the  pardon  of  his  sin,  and  eternal 
life. 

5.  He  appointed  the  profession  of  his  religion  to  be 
made  by  baptism,  to  denote  the  washing  away  of  our  sins, 
and  our  being  renewed  to  holiness  by  the  Spirit  of  God. 

6.  Just  before  his  sufferings  and  death,  he  appointed 
the  feast  of  the  Lord's  supper,  as  a  constant  memorial  of 
his  dying  for  the  sins  of  men,  and  our  partaking  of  the 
benefits  thereof.    Matt,  xxvi.  17 — 31.     1  Cor,  x.  16,  17. 

JVb/e.  This  dispensation  during  the  life  of  Christ,  was  a  me- 
dium between  the  Jewish  and  Christian  dispensations. 


CHAP.  XXIV, 

Of  the  JDeathy  Resurrectioriy  and  Jscensioli 
of  Christ, 


:Sect.  I.     Of  his  Sufferings,  Death,  and  Burial, 

1  Q.  When  Jesus  had  instituted  his  holy  supper, 
where  did  he  go  ? 

•^.  He  knew  that  the  hour  of  his  sufferings  was  at 
liand,  and  he  went  with  his  disciples  into  a  neighbouring 
garden  in  Gethsemane,  where  he  sustained  great  and 
grievous  agonies  and  sorrows  in  his  soul.  Matt. 
xxvi.  38,  39. 

2  Q.  How  did  it  appear  that  his  anguish  was  so 
great  ? 

J.  It  is  written  of  him,  that  he  began  to  be  sore  amaz- 
ed and  very  heavy,  or  overburdened.  He  told  his  disci- 
ples that  his  soul  urns  exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto 
death;  and  under  this  agony  or  sharp  conflict,  his  sweat 


Sect  1.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  25S 

was  like  great  drops  of  blood  falling  down  to  the  ground. 
Mark  x\y.  53,  34.    Lii/ce  xxii.  44. 

3  Q.  What  was  the  cause  of  these  sorrows  and  ago- 
nies ? 

J,  Thejr  could  not  arise  merely  from  the  fears  of 
death,  or  being  nailed  to  a  cross ;  for  then  lie  would  not 
liave  been  a  fit  example  of  courage  and  patience  to  his 
disciples  and  followers,  some  of  whom  have  suffered  the 
same  death  of  the  cross,  without  such  overwhelming  ter- 
rors and  fears  as  Christ  discovered.  It  has  been  general- 
ly supposed  therefore,  and  with  very  good  reason,  that 
these  agonies  of  his  soul  arose  from  a  sense  of  the  anger 
of  Gud  for  the  sins  of  men,  some  way  manifested  to  him : 
perhaps  also  increased  by  the  temptations  of  evil  angels, 
for  it  pleased  God  to  bruise  him,  and  make  his  soul  an 
offering  for  siv.  Luke  x\u.  53.  Jsa.liii.  6,  10.  And 
it  is  evident  the  powers  of  darkness  were  let  loose  upon 
him.     Luke  xxii.  53.     John  xiv.  SO. 

4  IJ.    What  did  Jesus  do  in  these  agonies? 

A.  He  prayed  three  times  earnestly,  that,  ij  possible, 
this  hour  mi^ht  pass  from  him;  his  innocent  human 
natqre  being  afraid  of  such  sharp  and  smarting  sorrows; 
yet  he  submitted  himself  to  the  wisdom  and  will  of  his 
Father,     Jlark  xiv.  35,  36. 

5  q.  What  assistance  had  he  to  support  him  under 
this  agony  ? 

//.  There  appeared  an  angel  from  heaven,  encourag- 
ing and  strengthening  him.     ver.  43. 

6  q.     Where  were  his  disciples  at  this  time  ? 

^.  He  had  withdrawn  to  a  little  distance  from  the 
rest  of  his  disciples  ;  but  Peter,  James,  and  John,  were 
nearest  to  him,  J\Iark  xiv.  32,  33 ;  yet  they  could  not 
help  him  ;  and  indeed  they  fell  asleep  part  of  the  time. 
ver.  37. 

7  q.  Was  Judas  the  traitor  with  the  rest  of  the 
disciples  in  the  garden  ? 

wi.    Judas  had  privately  departed  from  them  just  af- 
ter the  pass-over,  and  having;  a^^reed  with  the  chief  priests 
and  elders  for  tliirty  nieces  of  ^Iver  to  bt^tray  him  into 
the  hands  of  their  oflicers,  he  was  now  at  hand  with  a 
23 


S54  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  24. 

hand  of  men,  with  weapons  and  torches,  to  accomplish 
his  design  and  betraj  his  Master.  Mark  xix.  43.  Matt, 
xxvi.  14—16. 

8  Q.  How  came  the  rulers  of  the  Jews  to  be  so  much 
offended  with  Christ  as  to  seek  to  destroy  him. 

*8.    For  several  reasons,  namely, 

1.  Because  he  being  a  poor  man  in  Israel,  and  the 
supposed  son  of  a  carpenter,  owned  himself  to  be  the 
Messiah,  whom  they  expected  to  be  an  earthly  king,  and 
to  deliver  them  from  subjection  to  the  Romans. 

2.  Because  in  his  sermons,  and  in  his  whole  conduct, 
he  endeavoured  to  reform  those  corruptions  which  the 
priests  and  teacliers,  and  rulers  of  the  Jews,  had  brought 
into  their  religion. 

3.  He  had  foretold  the  anger  of  God  against  them 
and  their  nation,  in  some  of  his  parables  pretty  plainly, 
for  their  great  sins,  and  for  their  rejection  of  his  minis- 
try. 

4.  They  envied  him,  because  many  of  the  people  fol- 
lowed him. 

9  Q.  How  did  Judas  give  notice  to  the  officers  which 
was  Jesus  ? 

Ji.  He  gave  them  a  sign  that  he  would  kiss  him ;  and 
accordingly,  wlien  he  came  to  him,  he  said,  Uail  Master  ! 
and  kissed  him.    Matt,  xxvi,  48,  49. 

10  ^.  Was  there  any  resistance  made  for  the  relief 
fif  Christ? 

^.  Simon  Peter  cut  off  the  ear  of  Malchus,  the  high 
priest's  servant ;  but  Jesus  bid  him  put  up  his  sword, 
and  healed  the  man's  ear  with  a  touch.  Luke  xxii.  50, 
51.     John  xviii.  lOo 

11  Q.  Did  Christ  shew  anj^  further  instance  of  his 
-divine  power  on  this  occasion  ? 

.  ^.  When  they  asked  for  Jesus,  he  answered  I  am  he  z 
and  they  went  backward^  and  fell  to  the  ground.  John 
xviii.  5,  6. 

12  Q.  Did  they  yet  ^fter  this,  persist  to  lay  hands  on 
liim  ? 

Ji»    Yes ;  they  took  him  and  carried  him  away  to  Caia- 


Sect.  1.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY^  255 

phas  the  high  priest's  house,  where  the  scribes  and  elders 
were  assembled.    Matt.  xxvi.  57, 

13  Q.    What  became  of  his  disciples  ? 

Ji,  They  all  forsook  him  and  fled,  as  Christ  ioretold 
them  tliey  would  do.    Matt.  xxvi.  31,  56. 

14  Q.  What  did  Peter  do,  who  particularly  boasted 
of  his  love  and  coura^  ? 

..^.  Peter  followed  him  afar  oft',  into  the  high  priesfs 
hall,  but  there  for  fear  of  suftering,  he  shamefully  denied 
lus  Lord  and  Master  thrice,  and  that  with  swearing  and 
cursing.     Mark  xiv.  70 — 72. 

15  ^.  How  was  Peter  brought  to  conviction  and  re- 
pentance for  this  sin  ? 

A.  When  Jesus  heard  Peter  a  little  before  boastin» 
of  his  zeal  and  courage,  he  foretold  him,  that  he  should 
deny  him  thrice  before  the  cock  crowed  twice  ;  and 
when  Peter  heard  the  cock  crow,  Jesus,  standing  now 
before  the  high  priest,  turned  and  looked  upon  him  ;  and 
his  heart  meltetl  within  him ;  and  he  went  out  and  wept 
bitterly,    Mark  xiv.  2.    Luke  xxii.  61,  62. 

16  ^.  What  accusation  did  they  bring  against  Christ  ? 
»^.    Several  false  witnesses  accused  him  about  words 

that  he  spake ;  but  they  agreed  not  together,  and  there- 
fore they  could  not  find  sufficient  cause  to  condemn  hitn, 
though  they  sought  it  earnestly.    Mark  xiv.  56. 

17  0.     How  did  they  condemn  him  at  last  ? 

A,  The  liigli  priest  asked  him,  »^irt  thou  the  Christ  the 
Son  of  God  /  And  Jesus  said,  I  am  ;  and  ye  shall  see 
the  Son  of  man  sitting  on  the  right  hand  of  power,  and 
coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven.  Whereupon  they  con- 
demned liim  as  worthy  of  death  for  blasphemy.  Mark 
xiv.  61—64. 

1 8  Q.    Did  they  then  put  him  to  death  immediately  ? 
A.     The  Jews  beino;  under  tlie  government  of  ttie 

Romans,  had  not  the  full  power  of  life  and  deatli  in  their 
own  hands ;  but  thej^  shewed  their  spite  against  him  by 
many  indignities  offered  to  him,  and  never  left  till  tliey 
had  procured  a  sentence  of  death  against  him  from  the 
Roman  governor. 

19  Q.    What  were  these  indignities  ? 


256  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY,        Chap.  24. 

A.  They  suffered  their  officers  to  mock  and  insult 
him,  to  smite  and  spit  upon  him,  to  blind  his  eyes  and 
buffet  him ;  then  they  bound  him  and  delivered  him  to 
Pontius  Pilate  the  Ron\an  governor.  Mark  xiv.  Qo, 
and  XV.  1. 

20  ^.  What  became  of  Judas  the  traitor,  when  lie 
saw  the  priests  had  condemned  Christ? 

Ji.  He  repented  of  his  treachery,  and  brought  the 
thirty  pieces  of  silver  to  the  priests ;  he  went  away  and 
hanged  liimself ;  and  falling  down,  his  body  burst,  and 
his  bowels  fell  out.    Matt,  xxvii.  1 — 5.     Jicts  i.  18. 

21  ^.     AVhat  did  Pilate  determine  concerning  Jesus? 
Ji.     Pilate  found  him  to  be  an  innocent  man,  and  that 

the  priests  and  elders  had  accused  him  out  of  envy,  and 
therefore  he  would  lain  have  released  him.  Mark  xv. 
9, 10,  and  Luke,  xxiii.  4. 

22  ^.  How  did  Pilate  propose  to  release  him  when 
he  was  charged  as  so  great  a  criminal  by  their  accusa- 
tions ? 

A,  It  was  the  custom  at  the  pass-over,  to  release  some 
prisoner,  and  he  offered  to  release  Jesus  to  them  at  that 
season.    Mark  xv.  6 — 9. 

23  Q.    Did  the  Jews  accept  of  Pilate's  proposal  ? 

Ji.  No ;  they  chose  rather  to  have  I^arabbas  released, 
who  was  a  robber  and  a  muiderer,  and  demanded  Jesus 
to  be  crucified,     ver,  7,  11,  13. 

24  Q.    Did  Pilate  yield  to  their  demands  ? 

A,  Yes,  at  last  he  released  Barabbas  ;  and  when  he 
had  scourged  Jesus,  he  delivered  him  to  be  crucified, 
even  against  his  own  conscience,  ver.  1 5. 

25  ^.  How  came  Pilate  to  be  persuaded  to  crucify 
an  innocent  man  ? 

Ji,  He  did  it  partly  to  please  the  Jews,  and  partly 
lest  he  should  be  counted  an  enemy  to  Ceesar  if  he  spar- 
ed Christ  who  did  not  deny  himself  to  be  a  king.  J^lark 
XV.  15.    John  xix.  12,  13. 

26  Q.  What  further  indignkies  were  cast  on  our 
Saviour  ? 

A.  They  stripped  him  of  his  own  clothes,  and  put 
on  him  a  scarlet  robe  in  mockery,  because  he  did  not  d^- 


Sect  1.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  257 

ny  himself  to  be  the  Kin^  of  the  Jews;  they  platted  a 
crown  ol  thorns  and  put  it  on  his  head,  with  a  reed  in 
his  right  hand ;  they  bowed  the  knee  before  him,  and 
mocked  him,  saying,  Hail,  RUg  of  the  Jews.'  they 
smote  him  with  a  reed,  and  spit  upon  him,    Mark  xv. 

27  q.  How  did  the  blessed  Jesus  carry  it  under  all 
these  anronts  ? 

Ji,  Being  reviled  he  reviled  not  again,  but  stood  be- 
fore  his  accusers  and  his  judges  as  an  innocent  lamb 
stands  silent  before  the  shearers ;  and  made  very  few 
replies  to  all  their  accusations,  charges  aad  inquiries. 
JMark  xiv.  61.     Jets  viii.  32.     1  Fet.  ii.  23. 

28  Q.     In  what  manner  did  they  crucify  him  ? 

J,  They  put  his  own  garments  on  liim  again,  they 
carried  liim  to  Calvary,  the  place  of  execution,  and  there 
they  nailed  him  on  the  cross  ;  where  they  also  crucified 
two  malefactors,  one  on  his  right  hand,  and  the  other  on. 
his  left    Mark  xv.  20.     Luke  xxiii.  33. 

29  Q.  Did  our  Saviour  then  make  no  resistance,  nor 
<^ive  a  rebuke  to  their  wicked  cruelty  ? 

°  A,     He  only  prayed  for  them,  and  said.  Father  for- 
give them,  for  they  know  not  ichat  they  do.      Luke 

4*xxiii.  34. 

^     30  Q;    What  was  the  inscription  set  over  his  head  r 
J.     Th is  is  Jesus  of  A^azareth,  the  King  of  the  Jews^ 
and  it  was  written  in  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew.    John 
xixt  19.  ,  ^ 

31  Q.     What  affronts  did  he  suffer  on  the  cross  ? 

J.  When  the  soldiers  had  cast  lots  for  his  garments, 
the  rulers  mocked  him,  many  of  the  Jews  reviled  him» 
and  so  did  one  of  the  thieves  that  was  crucified  with 
him.    Luke  xxiii.  34 — 39.  . 

32  Q.    How  did  tlie  other  thief  carry  it  towards 

him  r  ,    ,     i   ,  • 

.1.  He  rebuked  his  fellow,  acknowledged  his  own 
«ruilt,  and  the  innocence  of  Christ ;  he  prayed  that  Jesus- 
would  remember  him  when  he  came  itito  his  kingdom, 

/",,/^.'  win,  40 — 42. 


258  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  24. 

33  Q.  What  answer  did  Christ  make  to  his  faith 
and  prayer  ? 

A.  Jesus  said,  Verilt/t  to-day  shalt  thou  be  with  me 
in  paradise,    ver.  43. 

34  Q.  What  respect  did  Jesus  pay  to  his  own  mother, 
Mary,  when  he  saw  her  near  the  cross  ? 

v^.  He  commended  her  to  the  care  of  John,  his  be- 
loved disciple ;  and  from  that  time  John  took  her  to  his 
own  house.    John  xix.  26,  27. 

S5  Q.  What  were  some  of  the  last  words  of  Jesus 
on  the  cross  ? 

Ji,  He  cried  out.  My  God^  my  God,  why  hast  thou 
forsaken  me?  And  a  little  after  he  said.  It  is  finished; 
then  he  cried  with  a  loud  voice.  Father,  into  thy  hands  1 
commend  my  Spirit,  and  died  immediately.  Mark  xv. 
34.     Luke  xxiii.  46.    John  xix.  SO. 

36  Q.  What  remarkable  occurrences  attended  the 
death  of  Christ  r 

A.  1.  At  the  sixth  hour  there  was  darkness  over  the 
whole  land  till  the  ninth ;  that  is,  from  noon  till  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon.    Mark  xv.  33. 

2.  The  vail  of  the  temple,  which  divided  the  holy 
place  from  the  holy  of  holies,  was  rent  from  the  top  to 
the  bottom. 

3.  There  was  an  earthquake,  the  rocks  were  rent, 
graves  were  then  opened,  and  many  of  the  pious  dead 
arose  after  his  resurrection,  and  appeared  to  several 
persons  in  Jerusalem.    Matt,  xxvii.  51 — 53. 

4.  The  centurion  who  guarded  the  crucifixion  of 
Christ,  seeing  these  things^  was  constrained  to  confess. 
Surely  this  man  was  the  Son  of  God.    Mark  xv.  39. 

37  Q.  What  was  done  to  the  body  of  Jesus  after  his 
death  ? 

d.  When  they  broke  the  legs  of  the  tiiieves  who 
were  crucified,  that  they  might  die  the  sooner,  and  be 
taken  down  from  the  cross  before  the  sabbath,  they  broke 
not  the  legs  of  Jesus,  because  he  was  already  dead  ;  but 
a  soldier  pierced  his  side  with  a  spear,  and  there  issued 
blood  anci  water.     Jo/twxix.  3! — 37. 

38  Q.    How  was  Jesus  buried  ? 


Sect.  2.  SCRIPTURE  HISTCJRV.  C.f) 

A.  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  a  rich  mai^L^eyt  to  Pilate, 
begged  the  body  of  Jesus,  wrapped  it  T^J&teMf  linen, 
with  spicesi,  laid"  it  in  his  own  new  tomo^^^M^^yUed  a 
great  stone  to  the  door  of  the  sepulchre.  TlSI<5:?riv. 
43 — 46.     Luke  xxiii.  56.    John  xix.  40. 

39  Q.  What  was  done  bv  the  enemies  of  Christ  to 
secure  him  from  rising  again? 

A.  llie  Jews  desired  Pilate  to  set  a  guard  of  soldiers 
about  tlie  sepulchre  ;  and,  that  they  might  know  if  the 
tomb  had  been  opened,  they  sealed  the  stone  that  was 
rolled  to  the  door  of  it.    *Matt.  xxvii.  62 — 66. 


Sect.  II.     Of  the  Hesurreciion  and  Appearances  of 
Christ. 

40  Q.     How  did  Jesus  arise  from  the  dead  ? 

Jl,    Early  on  the  first  day  of  the  week  there  was  a 

freat  earthquake,  an  angel  rolled  back  the  stone  from 
le  door  and  sat  upon  it,  his  countenance  was  like  lif^ht- 
ning,  and  his  raiment  white  as  snow;  the  keepers 
shook  for  fear,  and  Jesus  rose  and  departed.  Matt, 
xxvii.  1 — 4. 

41  Q.  What  was  the  first  notice  the  apostles  of 
Christ  had  of  his  resurrection  ? 

v(?.  Early  in  the  morning  after  the  sabbath,  some 
good  women  came  to  brin^  spices  and  ointments,  to 
anoint  the  body,  ffnd  they  found  the  stone  rolled  away 
from  the  sepulchre;  and  an  angel  told  them  Jesus  was 
risen;  and  bid  them  go  tell  his  disciples.  J^ark  xvi, 
1—8. 

42  ({.  Which  of  the  apostles  came  to  the  sepulchre 
to  examine  this  matter  ? 

A.  Peter  and  John  both  went  to  tlie  sepulchre,  and 
found  the  linen  clothes  and  the  napkin,  in  which  the 
bwly  was  wrapped,  and  were  convinced  that  Jesus  was 
risen.    John  xx.  1 — 10. 

43  ^.  '\>'hat  story  did  the  Jews  tell  concerning  the 
resurrection  of  Clirist  ? 


560  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  24. 

Jl.  When  the  guards  told  the  c])ief  priests  what  was 
done,  the  priests  and  elders  bribed  them  largely  to  say, 
that  while  they  fell  asleep,  his  disciples  came  by  night 
and  stole  him  away.     Matt,  xxviii.  11 — 13. 

44  Q.  How  then  did  the  soldiers  come  off  with  the 
governor  ? 

A.  The  priests  persuaded  the  governor  to  forgive 
them  for  sleeping,     ver.  1 4. 

45  Q.  To  whom  did  Jesus  appear  after  his  resur- 
rection r 

A.  First  to  Mary  Magdalen  ;  afterwards  to  two  dis- 
ciples going  to  Emmaus ;  then  to  the  apostles  assembled, 
without  Thomas ;  and  all  this  on  the  day  of  his  resur- 
rection :  afterwards  he  appeared  to  the  apostles  when 
Thomas  was  with  them  ;  again  at  the  Sea  of  Tiberias  to 
seven  of  his  disciples ;  then  to  eleven  of  his  disciples  on 
a  mountain  in  Galilee;  then  near  Jerusalem  when  he 
ascended  to  heaven. 

46  Q.  How  long  did  he  continue  on  earth  after  his 
resurrection  ? 

S,  He  continued  forty  days,  giving  his  disciples 
further  instructions  in  the  great  things  of  the  Gospel, 
which  they  were  not  prepared  to  receive  before  his 
death.    Jlcts  i.  3.     John  xvi.  12. 

47  Q.     How  did  he  appear  to  Mary  Magdalen  ? 

Jl.  When  she  found  not  Jesus  in  the  tomb,  she  turn- 
ed away  from  the  sepulchre,  and  she  saw  Jesus,  but 
knew  him  not  till  he  called  her  by  her  name.  John  xx. 
14,  16. 

48  Q.    What  did  he  say  to  her  ? 

.?.  Touch  me  not  at  present,  but  go  to  my  brethren, 
and  tell  them,  I  ascend  to  my  Father  and  your  Father, 
to  my  God  and  your  God.    ver.  17. 

49  Q.  How  did  he  appear  to  his  two  disciples  going 
to  Emmaus  ? 

,i.  He  joined  himself  to  them  as  they  were  walking ; 
he  reproved  them  for  their  unbelief;  he  proved  to  them 
out  of  the  prophets  that  the  Messiah  was  to  suffer  death, 
and  to  enter  into  glory ;  he  went  into  the  house  and  eat 


Sect.  2.  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  261 

with  them  ;  and  when  they  began  to  know  him,  lie  van- 
ished out  of  their  sight.     Luke  xxiv.  13 — 31. 

50  f/.  Ilow  didhe  reveal  himself  to  the  apostles 
when  Thomas  was  absent, the  same  evening? 

j).  When  the  doors  were  shut  for  fear  of  the  Jews, 
Jesus  came  and  stood  in  the  midst  of  tliem ;  he  blessed 
them,  and  gave  them  a  commission  to  preach  the  Gospel ; 
he  breathed^  on  tliem,  and  bid  them  receive  the  Holy 
Ghost.     John  xx.  19—23. 

51  Q.  How  did  he  appear  to  them  when  Thomas 
was  with  them  ? 

A.  A  week  after,  Jesus  stood  in  the  midst  of  them 
again,  when  the  doors  were  shut,  and  bid  Thomas  see 
and  feel  the  marks  of  the  nails  in  his  Viands,  and  of 
tlie  spear  in  his  side,  and  rebuked  his  unbelief.  John 
XX.  24—27. 

52  Q.     Did  Thomas  confess  him  then  ? 

A.  Thomas  with  surprise  and  joy  acknowledged  him ; 
he  broke  out  into  a  rapture  of  zeal  and  worship,  and  said 
to  him,  >Mif  Lordf  ana  mij  God.     ver,  28. 

53  Q.  How  did  he  shew  himself  to  them  at  the  Sea 
of  Tiberias. 

^.  Some  of  them  w^ent  a  fishing,  and  cauglit  nothing 
all  night ;  Jesus  stood  on  the  sliore  in  the  morning,  and 
bid  them  cast  the  net  on  the  right  side  of  tiie  ship  ;  and 
they  took  a  multitude  of  fishes.    John  xxi.  1 — 6. 

54  ({.  What  remarkable  occurrence  happened  at 
this  meeting? 

A.  When  they  knew  it  was  the  Lord,  Peter  cast 
himself  itito  the  sea ;  and  when  they  were  come  to  the 
shore,  they  eat  some  broiled  fish,  and  Jesus  eat  with  them. 
John  xxi.  7, 13. 

55  Q.  How  did  Jesus  reprove  Peter  for  his  want  of 
love  to  him,  and  denying  his  Master  ? 

•9.  He  rebuked  him  in  a  very  gentle  manner  of 
speech,  by  asking  Peter  three  times,  whether  he  loved 
him  or  no,  and  then  he  foretold  that  Peter  should  love 
him  so  well  as  to  suffer  and  die  for  his  sake.   ver.  15-19. 

56  Q.  How  did  he  appear  to  them  on  tlie  mountain 
in  Galilee  r 


362  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  24. 

Ji,  Jesus  appointed  them  to  meet  him  there  ;  he  told 
them  that  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth  was  given  into 
his  hands ;  lie  gave  them  their  commission  to  preach  the 
Gospel  to  all  nations ;  and  promised  his  presence  with 
them,  and  a  power  to  work  miracles,  for  the  vindication 
of  their  doctrine.    Matt,  xxviii.  1 6 — 20. 


Sect.  III.     Of  his  Ascension  to  Heaven. 

57  (^.  How  did  he  manifest  himself  to  them  near 
Jerusalem  ? 

A.  He  met  them,  and  led  them  out  as  far  as  to 
Mount  Olivet,  near  Bethany  ;  he  bid  them  to  tarry  at  Je- 
rusalem till  the  promised  Spirit  should  fall  upon  them ; 
he  repeated  their  commission,  appointed  them  to  be  wit- 
nesses for  him  in  the  world ;  and  having  blessed  them, 
lie  ascended  to  heaven  in  a  bright  cloud.  Luke  xxiv. 
49—51.     Acts'i  4—11. 

58  Q.  Did  he  not  appear  to  five  hundred  brethren 
at  once  ? 

A.  St.  Paul  asserts  it,  1  Cor.  xv.  6,  and  it  was  nei- 
ther the  first  nor  the  last  time  of  his  appearance,  but 
when  it  was  is  uncertain.    Jicts  i.  12. 

59  ^.  AVhat  notice  was  there  given  from  heaven  of 
his  return  again  ? 

Ji.  While  they  were  gazing  towards  heaven,  two 
angels  appeared,  and  assured  them,  that  they  should  see 
liim  return  in  the  same  manner  as  he  ascended.  Acts 
J.  10,  U. 

GO  Q.    Whither  went  the  disciples  then  ? 

A.  They  worshipped  Christ  when  he  ascended  to 
lieaven,  and  returned  to  Jerusalem  with  great  joy,  prais- 
ing God.     Luke  xxiv.  52,  5S, 


Chap.  25.        SCRIPTURE   HISTORY:.  263 


CHAP.  XXV. 


Of  the  Jets  of  the  Apostles,  chiefly  Peter  and  John,  and 
the  Deacons,  Stephen  and  Philip. 

1  O,  What  was  the  first  remarkable  thing  the 
apostles  did  toward  their  future  ministry,  after^lhey  re- 
turned  to  Jerusalem? 

A.  They  chose  two  out  of  their  company  at  Jerusa- 
Jem,  (wliich  was  one  hundred  and  twenty)  that  one  of 
them  might  be  an  apostle  and  witness  oj  the  resurrec- 
tion of  Christ,  in  the  room  of  Judas  the  traitor.  Jets 
i.  15 22. 

2  q.  How  did  they  determine  which  of  those  two 
should  be  the  man  ?  ,  ^ ,  x 

J.  Thev  called  on  the  Lord  by  prayer,  then  cast  lots, 
and  the  lot'fell  upon  Matthias,  who  was  numbered  with 
the  eleven  apostles.    Jets  i.  24—26.  ,  o  •  • 

3  q.  How  long  did  they  wait  for  the  promised  fepirit 
to  fall  on  tliein  ? 

J.  On  the  day  of  pentecost,  which  was  ten  days  attei- 
the  ascension  of  Christ,  the  Spirit  of  God  was  sent  down 
upon  them.    JctsW.  },  iiic, 

4  q.     In  what  manner  did  the  Spirit  come  upon  them  ? 
J,    The  house  where  they  were  met  was  filled  with 

the  sound  of  a  rushing  wind,  and  cloven  tongues  of  fire 
appeared  as  sitting  on  all  their  heads,  ver.  2,  3. 

5  q.  What  was  the  first  effect  of  tlie  descent  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  upon  tl^m  ? 

A.  They  all  spake  with  various  tongues  the  wonder- 
ful works  of  God,  to  the  ama/.ement  ot  the  Jews,  and  a 
multitude  of  proselytes  of  all  nations  that  were  tlicn  at 
Jerusalem,  ver.  A — 11. 

6  q.  Which  of  the  apostles  seemed  to  be  the^  chiet 
speaker  at  that  time,  and  what  was  tlieir  doctrine  ? 

J.  Peter  preaches  to  this  multitude,  bears  witness  to 
the  resurrection  and  exaltation  of  Christ,  and  the  pour- 
ing out  of  tijc  Spirit  of  God  on  men ;  partly  from  hi* 


264  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap,  25. 

own  knowledge,  and  from  these  present  visible  effects 
thereof  among  them,  and  partly  fi^m  the  prophecies  and 
promises  of  Scripture  ;  he  leads  them  to  Christ  as  a  Sa- 
viour and  Lordy  calls  them  to  repentance  of  their  sins, 
and  a  profession  of  their  faith  in  Jesus,  by  being  baptized 
in  his  name.  ver.  14 — 41. 

7  Q.     What  success  had  this  sermon  ? 

J,  '^ree  thousand  souls  were  added  to  the  disciples 
of  Christ,  and  baptized  on  that  day.  ver.  41. 

8  Q.  What  was  the  temper  of  spirit  which  was  ad- 
mirable in  these  primitive  converts  ? 

Jl.  A  spirit  of  devotion  toward  God  and  Christ,  with 
a  spirit  of  benevolence  and  intimate  friendship  toward 
each  other ;  so  far,  that  they  were  daily  in  the  temple 
praising  God  ;  they  were  most  frequently,  or  rather  con- 
tinually engaged  in  prayer,  and  in  remembering  the 
death  of  Christ,  by  breaking  bread  with  joy ;  and  they 
50  liberally  distributed  to  tlie  poor,  that  none  was  in 
want.  These  were  the  glorioys  effects  of  Christianity 
in  its  first  appearance,  ver.  42 — 47. 

9  Q.  How  did  the  apostles  effectually  prove  their 
doctrine,  and  their  commission  to  preach  ? 

d.  By  doing  many  si^ns  and  wonders  among  the. 
people,  which  were  the  gifts  of  the  Spirit,  proceeding 
from  a  risen  Saviour,  ver.  SS> — 43. 

Note.  This  was  the  proper  lieginning  of  the  kingdom  of 
Christ,  or  the  Christiajv  Dispensation  ;  which  was  set  iip 
in  the  Avorld  in  its  glory,  at  the  pouring  down  of  the  Spirit,  af- 
ter the  ascension  of  Christ,  and  his  exaltation  to  the  govern- 
ment of  the  world  and  the  church. 

10  Q.  What  remarkable  miracle  was  wrouglit  by 
Peter  and  John  at  the  temple  gate  ? 

Jl.  A  beggar  that  was  born  a  cripple  received  the 
use  of  his  limbs,  when  they  bid  him  rise  up  and  walk  in 
the  name  of  Jesus  of  JsTazareth.    Jets  iii.  1 — 9. 

11  Q.     What  use  was  made  of  this  miracle  ? 

Jl.  Peter  took  occasion  from  it  to  preach  this  new 
doctrine,  namely,  the  resurrection  of  Christ,  and  salva- 
tion in  his  name,  citing  the  ancient  prophets  to  confirm 
it.    ^c^s.  iii.  12— 26. 


Chap.  25.         SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  265 

1 2  Q.    What  was  the  effect  of  this  sermon  ? 

.'?.  Five  thousand  were  converted  by  it  to  the  faith 
of  Christ ;  but  the  priests  and  rulers  put  the  apostles  in 
prison.     Jicts  iv.  1 — 4. 

13  CJ.  What  defence  did  the  apostles  make  when 
they  were  brought  the  next  day  before  the  priests  and 
rulers  ? 

*4.  They  took  courage  again,  and  preached  to  this 
court  the  doctrine  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ ;  and  silenced 
tlieir  enemies,  by  having  tlie  cripple  that  was  healed 
stand  among  them.  ver.  5 — 14. 

14  ^.  What  became  of  them  after  this  their  de- 
fence ? 

^.  They  were  dismissed,  and  charged  to  preach  no 
more  in  the  name  of  Jesus ;  but  Peter  and  John  declared 
they  would  obey  God  rather  than  man.    ver.  15 — 20. 

13  O.  Whither  went  the  apostles  after  their  dis- 
charge r 

w^.  They  went  to  their  own  company,  and  gave  glory 
to  God  in  prayer  and  praise ;  and  their  whole  assembly 
was  filled  \vi"th  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  boldly  spake  the 
word  of  God.  ver,  23 — 31. 

16  ^.     What  remarkable  instance  of  goodness  and 
Jpeompassion  was  practised  by  these  first  believers  ? 

*S,  The  souls  of  all  of  them  were  so  united  in  love 
to  ClH-ist,  and  one  anotiier,  tliat  they  sold  their  posses- 
sions and  goods,  and  tlirew  all  into  a  common  stock, 
wliich  the  apostles  divided  to  every  man  according  to  his 
need,     ^cts  iii.  44,  45,  and  iv,  32 — 35. 

17  Q,  Were  they  all  faithful  and  honest  in  bringing 
the  price  of  their  estates  to  the  joint-stock  ? 

J.  There  was  one  Ananias,  with  his  wife  Sapphira, 
who  sold  a  possession,  and  secretly  withheld  part  of  the 
money,  though  tliey  declared  they  had  paid  it  all  in. 
Jd<,  V.  1,2. 

18  Q,  Did  they  meet  with  any  punishment  for  this 
tlieir  hypm  risy  and  deceit  ? 

A,    'Peter  charjjed  them  with  /j/two;  to  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  struck  them  both  dead  with  \\\&  woitl.  ivr.  3 — 10. 
39  Q.     What  effect  had  this  upon  the  multitude  ? 
24 


S66  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  25, 

•5.  It  discouraged  others  that  were  in  the  church 
from  practising  the  like  deceit,  and  frightened  hypocrites 
from  coming  into  the  church  merely  in  hopes  of  a  main- 
tenance, ver.  11. 

20  ^.  What  other  miracles  were  wrouglit  by  the 
apostles  ? 

*i.  Multitudes  of  sick  were  Jiealed,  and  those  that 
were  possessed  with  devils  were  relieved,  both  in  Jeru- 
salem and  the  cities  round  about,  ver,  15,  16. 

21  Q.  Did  the  high  priests  and  rulers  let  the  apostles 
^0  on  at  this  rate  ? 

•4,  They  again  put  them  in  prison,  but  the  angel  of 
the  Lord  by  night  opened  the  prison  doors,  and  sent 
them  again  to  preach  this  Gospel,  ver.  17 — 21. 

22  ^.  When  they  were  brought  again  before  the 
iulers,  how  did  they  behave  themselves  ? 

J.  They  charged  the  rulers  with  putting  Christ  to 
ileath,  and  declared  they  were  witnesses  of  his  resurrec- 
tion ;  and  that  God  had  eocalted  him  to  be  a  Prince  and 
a  Saviour,  to  give  repentance  .and  forgiveness  of  sins, 
ver.  29 — 32. 

23  Q,  What  eflfect  had  this  speech  upon  the  rulers 
and  elders  ? 

Jl,  At  the  advice  of  Gamaliel  (who  doubted  whether 
the  hand  of  God  was  not  with  the  apostles)  they  dis- 
missed them  again  ;  but  they  beat  them  fa-st,  and  again 
commanded  them  to  preach  Jesus  Cluist  no  more.  vei\ 
34—42. 

24  ^.  When  there  were  such  multitudes  of  converts, 
how  could  the  apostles  both  preach  the  Gospel,  and  dis- 
tribute the  money  to  the  poor  ? 

•A.  The  apostles  were  sensible  that  the  labour  was 
too  much  for  them,  and  therefore  they  bid  the  disciples 
choose  out  seven  men  (who  were  afterwards  called  dea- 
cons) to  take  care  of  the  poor,  that  they  might  more 
constantly  be  -engaged  in  preaching  and  prayer,  dcts 
\l  1— -5. 

25  Q.  How  did  the  apostles  separate  those  whom 
the  people  chose  to  this  office  of  a  deacon  ? 

»^.     They  prayed  and  laid  their  hands  on  them,  ver,  6. 


Chap.  25.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY. 

26  Q.  Who  were  the  most  considerable  of  these 
seven  men  ? 

Ji.  Stephen  and  Philip,  who  were  full  of  faith  and 
zeal,  and  had  great  gifts  communicated  to  them. 

27  Q.     What  is  related  concerning  Stephen  ? 

A.  He  wrought  wonders,  and  no  doubt  he  preached 
the  word  with  power,  till  he  was  accused  to  the  council 
for  blasjiljemv  against  God  and  Moses,  ver,  8 — 15. 

28  q.     How  did  Stephen  defend  himself? 

Jl.  By  a  long  rehearsal  of  their  ancient  histories,  he 
charged  them  and  their  fathers  with  resisting  the  Holy 
Spirit,  with  killino;  the  prophets,  and  with  breaking  the 
law  of  God ;  and  upbraided  them  at  last  with  the  mur- 
der of  Christ.     Acts  vii.  1 — 53. 

29  q.  What  did  they  do?  with  Stephen  after  so  bold 
a  speech  ? 

J.  When  he  told  them  further,  that  he  saw  the  hea- 
lipfis  openedy  and  Jesus  standing  at  the  right  hand  of 
God  ;  they  cried  out  against  him  as  a  blasphemer,  with 
a  loud  voice ;  they  cast  him  out  of  the  city  and  stoned 
him.  ver.  54 — 58. 

30  Q.     How  did  Stephen  behave  at  his  death  ? 

A.  He,  being  the  first  martyr  for  Christ,  gave  a  glori- 
ous instance  of  his  taith  and  love. 

31  Q.     Wherein  did  his  faith  appear? 

J).  At  his  death  he  prayetl,  and  said.  Lord  Jesus  re- 
ceive mi/  spirit,  ver.  59. 

32  q.     How  did  he  manifest  his  love  ? 

^.  He  prayed  for  his  enemies,  and  said.  Lord,  lay 
not  this  sin  to  their  charge,  ver.  60. 

S3  ({.  What  is  recorded  concerning  Philip  tlie  dea- 
con ? 

Jl,  He  went  down  to  Samaria,  and  preached  Christ 
among  tliem,  and  healed  the  sick,  and  cast  out  devils* 
Jlcts  viii.  5,  6,  7. 

34  q.    Did  he  make  any  converts  there  ? 

.^.  Yes  ;  many  of  the  Samaritans  believed  in  Christ 
and  were  baptized,  and  among  the  rest  one  Simon  a 
sorcerer,  was  baptized,  who  is  commonly  called  Simon 
Magus,  ver.  9 — 13. 


ges  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Chap.  25. 

S5  Q.  Did  these  believers  at  Samaria  receive  the 
Holy  Spirit  also  ? 

*3.  Peter  and  John,  the  apostles,  came  down  on  pur- 
pose from  Jerusalem,  and  laid  hands  on  them,  and  they 
received  the  Holy  Spirit,    ver,  14 — 17. 

Js^'ote.  This  make^  it  evident,  that  Philip,  who  preached  to 
the  Samaritans,  was  not  the  apostle  so  named,  but  the  deacon  ; 
for  had  he  been  the  apostle,  there  would  have  been  no  need  for 
Peter  and  John  to  come  from  Jerusalem  to  lay  hands  on  those 
1  hat  believed. 

36  Q.  How  did  Simon  Magus  betray  his  own  hypo- 
crisy and  falsehood  ? 

/i.  He  offered  them  money  that  he  might  have  power 
to  communicate  the  Holy  Ghost  to  others  by  laying  on 
his  hands,  ver,  18,  19. 

37  Q.  How  was  he  reproved  for  this  his  rashness 
and  folly? 

►5.  Peter  said  to  him,  Thy  money  parish  with  thee! 
Thou  hast  no  part  with  us  in  this  matter ;  for  thy 
heart  is  not  right  in  the  sight  of  God.    ver.  20,  21. 

38  C(.     Whither  was  Philip  sent  next  to  preach  ? 

A.  The  angel  of  the  liord  sent  him  to  meet  a  great 
officer  of  the  queen  of  Ethiopia  upon  the  road,  as  he  was 
returning  from  Jerusalem,  where  he  had  been  to  worship 
as  a  proselyte,  ver.  26,  27. 

59  Q.     How  vras  he  employed  when  P!iilip  met  him  ? 

A.  He  was  sitting  in  his  chariot,  and  reading  the  53d 
chapter  of  Isaiah,  where  it  is  written.  He  ivas  led  as  a 
sheep  to  the  slaughter,  S^c.  ver.  28 — 32. 

40  Q.  In  what  manner  did  Philip  preach  the  Gospel 
to  him  ? 

*3.  Upon  his  inquiry,  "  who  was  the  person  of  whom 
the  prophet  spake  r"  Philip  preached  Jesus  Christ  the 
Saviour  to  him.  ver.  54,  35. 

41  Q.     What  success  had  this  discourse  of  Philip  ? 
Ji.     He  professed  his  fiiith,  that  Jesus  is  the  Son  of 

God,  and  was  baptized  as  soon  as  they  came  to  any  wa- 
ter, ver.  36—38. 

42  Q.     What  became  of  Philip  afterwards  ? 

.5.    The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  caught  him  away,  and 


Chap.  25.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  269 

carried  him  to  Azotus ;  whence  he  travelled  to  Cesarea, 
and  preached  to  all  the  cities  upon  the  road.  ver.  39,  40. 

43  ({,  What  are  the  next  remarkable  actions  of 
Peter  ? 

*^.  He  went  down  to  Lydda,  and  cured  Eneas,  who 
had  kept  his  bed  ei^ht  years  with  the  palsy ;  and  he 
went  to  Joppa,  and  raised  Dorcas  from  tne  dead.  ,icts 
ix.  32—41. 

44  <^.     Who  was  this  Dorcas  ? 

A.  She  was  a  woman  full  of  good  works,  and  wha 
made  garments  for  the  poor.  ver.  56—39. 

45  (J.     What  was  the  effect  of  these  miracles  ? 

A,  Many  at  Lydda  and  Joppa  believed  and  turned 
to  the  Lord.  ver.  S3 — 42. 

46  Q.  What  message  did  Peter  receive  while  he  wa«, 
at  Joppa  ? 

J,  Cornelius,  a  centurion  that  feared  God,  and  pray- 
ed to  liim  daily,  was  ordered  by  an  angel  in  a  vision  to 
send  to  Joppa  for  Peter,  that  he  might  teach  him  the 
way  of  salvation,    •^cts  x.  1 — 6. 

47  ({.  Did  Peter  readily  go  upon  this  message,  and 
preach  to  Cornelius  who  was  one  of  the  Gentilesr 

J.  Peter  being  a  Jew,  would  have  thought  it  unlaw- 
ful to  keep  company  with  the  Gentiles ;  tliat  is,  to  go 
and  sojourn,  and  eat  with  tliem  in  a  familiar  manner,  as- 
thinking  them  unclean :  but  God  forewarned  him  in  a 
vision,  just  before  the  messengei-s  came  to  him,  that  he 
should  freely  go  and  preach  to  the  Gentiles  who  sent  for 
him.  rer.  19.  20,  28,29. 

48  Q.  AN'hat  sort  of  vision  was  this  whereby  God 
forewarned  Peter  tliat  the  Gentiles  should  not  be  judged 
unclean  any  longer : 

^,  Whde  the  messengers  of  Cornelius  drew  near 
the  city,  Peter  went  upon  the  house-top  to  pray ;  and 
there  was  a  great  sheet  appearetl  to  be  let  uown  fron* 
heaven,  with  all  manner  ol  unclean  beasts  and  birds,  and 
creeping  things  ;  and  a  voice  bid  Peter  kill  and  eat,  nor 
call  those  tinngs  unclean  which  God  had  cleansed,  ver* 
0,  20. 

34» 


^TO  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.       Chap.  25. 

J^ote.  By  this  vision  Peter  seems  to  have  been  taught  these 
two  things  at  once ;  namely,  he  was  taught  hterally  and  ex- 
pressly, that  there  were  no  more  Jewish  distinctions  of  meats  to 
be  observed  ;  and  he  was  taught,  by  way  of  emblem,  that  the 
Gentiles  should  no  longer  be  counted  unclean,  or  unfit  for  Jews 
familiarly  to  eat  and  converse  with. 

49  Q.  How  did  Peter  begin  his  sermon  to  Cornelius 
and  his  friends  ? 

•^.  Thus  ;  Of  a  truth  I  perceive  that  God  is  no  re- 
specter of  persons  ;  hut  in  every  nation^  he  that  fearetJi 
God,  and  worketh  righteousness  is  accepted  of  him, 
.4cfs  X.  34,  35. 

50  Q.  What  was  the  chief  substance  of  his  dis- 
course ? 

Jl.  He  preached  the  life,  and  death,  and  resurrection 
of  Christ ;  and  that  he  was  ordained  to  be  the  Judge  of 
the  world :  and  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should 
have  remission  of  sins.    vcr.  36 — 43. 

51  Q.  Had  this  sermon  of  Peter  any  remarkable 
success  ? 

Ji,  While  Peter  spake  these  words,  the  Holy  Ghost 
fell  on  all  those  that  were  present ;  and  they  spake  with 
tongues,  and  were  baptized  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
ver,  44 — 48. 

52  Q.  How  did  Peter  defend  himself  for  conversing 
and  eating  with  the  Gentiles,  when  the  Jewish  believers 
reproved  him  for  it  ? 

A.  Peter  related  the  whole  story,  both  of  his  own 
Tision  upon  the  house-top,  and  of  the  angel  that  was  sent 
to  Cornelius,  and  the  wonderful  success  of  his  sermon  ; 
upon  which  they  held  their  peace,  and  glorified  God. 
^c^sxi.  1— 18. 

53  Q.  Were  the  disciples  of  Christ  free  from  perse- 
cution at  this  time  ? 

A.  They  had  been  free  from  persecution  for  a  con- 
siderable time  in  Judea,  and  Galilee,  and  Samaria,  till 
Herod  killed  James  the  brother  of  John  with  the  sword, 
and  put  Peter  in  prison.    Jlcts  ix.  31,  and  xii.  1 — 4. 

54  Q.     How  did  Peter  escape  from  his  hands  ? 

d.    Prayer  was  made  by  the  church  without  ceasing 


Chap.  25.         SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  Sri 

for  him  ;  and  while  he  was  sleeping  between  two  sol- 
diers, bound  with  two  chains,  and  the  sentinels  kept  the 
prison-door,  at  nig;ht  a  li^ht  shone  in  the  prison,  and  the 
angel  of  the  Lord  awakened  him,  tlie  chains  fell  frotn  his 
hand»,  tlie  n;ates  opened  of  their  own  accoixl,  and  the 
angel  brought  him  into  the  street  and  departet!.  Acts 
xii.  5 — 10. 

55  Q.  Whither  went  Peter  after  his  release  from 
prison  r 

J.  To  the  house  of  Mary  t!ie  mother  of  John  Mark, 
where  the  disciples  were  met  together  for  prayer,  and 
he  ortlered  them  to  acquaint  the  brethren  of  his  miracu- 
lous deliverance,    ver.  \2 — ir. 

56  ({.  How  did  Herod  shew  his  rage  for  his  disap- 
pointment ? 

J.  He  commanded  the  keepers  of  the  prison  to  be 
put  to  death,  being  exceedingly  vexed  that  Peter  had 
escaped  his  hands,    ver.  19. 

57  ({.  What  remarkable  judgment  of  God  fell  upon 
Herod? 

./.  Upon  a  special  occasion,  sitting  on  his  throne,  in 
his  royal  robes,  he  made  a  speech  to  the  people ;  upon 
which*  tliey  cried  out.  It  is  the  voice  nf  a  god  and  not 
of  a  man  /  and  immediately  the  angel  of  the  Lord  smote 
him,  because  he  jjave  not  God  the  glory,  and  he  was 
eaten  of  worms  and  died.     ver.  21—23. 

58  ((.  What  further  account  is  there  given  of  Peter 
in  Scripture? 

*(?.  He  preached  the  Gospel  to  the  world,  he  encour- 
aged the  receiving  the  Gentiles  into  tiie  church  without 
ciTcumcision,  by  his  own  example ;  he  wrote  letters  to 
encourage  the  believers  under  j)ersecution  ;  till  at  last 
he  was  crucified,  as  Christ  had  foretold  him.  J)cts  xv. 
r— 11.  First  and  second  epistle  of  Feter,  Jo/in  xxi. 
18,  19.    2  /'eM.  13— 15. 

59  Q.  Is  there  any  thing  else  recorded  concerning 
the  apostle  John  ? 

J.  He  also  preached  the  wortl,  and  wrote  the  his- 
tory of  the  life  and  death  of  Christ,  which  is  called  his 
Gospel,;  he  wrote  several  epistles  to  the  Christians;  he 


272  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  25, 

was  bariished  to  the  isle  of  Patmos  for  the  sake  of 
Christ,  where  he  wrote  the  book  of  the  Revelation  :  in 
what  order  he  wrote  these  things,  does  not  appear  from 
Scripture. 

60  ((.  You  liave  informed  us  wliat  were  the  doctrines, 
and  what  was  the  religion  tliat  the  apostles  and  disci- 
ples taught  after  Christ  went  to  heaven  ;  but  how 
comes  it  to  pass  that  among  these  doctrines  v.'e  do  not 
find  them  insisting  more  expressly  on  that  great  article 
of  the  Gospel,  the  redemption  by  Christ's  death,  and 
the  atonement  made  for  sin  bj  his  suffering's  ? 

Ji.  It  is  sufficiently  evident  that  this  doctrine  was  taught 
the  world  by  Peter  and  John,  as  well  as  byPaul,  since  there 
is  frequent  mention  of  it  in  their  epistles,  as  well  as  it 
shines  every  where  through  tlie  epistles  of  St.  Paul ; 
nor  can  we  suppose  their  preaching  utterly  forgot  or 
neglected  what  their  writings  abound  with,  1  Pet.  i.  18, 
19,  ch.  ii.  24,  ch.  iii.  18,  and  iv.  1,  1  John  i.  7,  cli.  ii.  2, 
cli.  iii.  16,  and  v.  6,  and  therefore  it  is  possible  they 
might  preach  it  sometimes  at  first,  though  it  be  not  ex- 
pressly recorded  in  such  short  abstractsof  their  sermons, 
as  we  find  in  the  book  of  Acts.  Or,  if  this  doctiine  was 
not  published  at  first  with  frequency  and  freedom,  there 
seems  to  be  a  very  good  reason  for  it,  namely,  because 
neither  the  Jews  nor  Gentiles  could  well  bear  it  so  soon; 
for  it  was  a  stumblings-block  to  the  Jews,  and  foolish- 
ness to  the  Greeks.  1  Cor.  i.  23.  And  they  were  to  be 
led  by  degrees  into  a  full  acquaintance  with  the  mystery 
of  the  Gospel ;  even  as  Christ  himself  led  his  own  dis- 
ciples by  slow  degrees  into  the  knowledge  of  thi:^  and 
other  things,  as  they  were  able  to  bear  them.  .John 
xvi.  12, 


Chap.  26.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORV. 


CHAP.  XXVI. 

The  Mts  of  Paul  the  Apostle,  hU  Travels  and  Suffer- 
ings, his  Life  and  Death, 

1  Q.     Who  was  Paul  r 

A.  He  was  a  Jew  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  bom 
at  Tarsus  ;  his  name  at  first  was  Saul,  he  was  brought 
up  in  the  strict  sect  of  the  Pharisees,  a  man  of  j^ood 
niorals,  and  exceeding  zealous  of  the  traditions  ot  the 
fathers.  Jicts  xxiii.  9,  and  xxi.  39.  Phil,  iii.  5,  6.  Oal. 
i.  14.    Acts  vii.  58. 

2  ^.  What  was  his  behaviour  towards  the  Christians 
while  he  continued  a  Pharisee  ? 

J.  He  was  a  verr  great  persecutor  in  his  younger 
years,  he  made  havock  of  tlie  church  every  where,  send- 
ing men  and  women  to  prison,  and  he  encouraged  tliose 
wlio  stoned  Stephen.    Jets  viii.  1,  3,  and  yii.  58. 

3  Q.     How  came  he  to  become  a  Christian  ? 

A.  As  he  was  going  to  Pamascus,  with  orders  from 
tlie  high  priest  to  bring  all  the  Christians  he  could  find 
there  bound  to  Jerusalem,  he  was  struck  down  on  the 
road,  by  a  blaze  of  light  from  heaven.     Acts  \x,  1 — 3. 

4  ^.     Did  he  hear  any  voice  at  the  same  time  ? 

A.  A  voice  from  heaven  said  to  him,  Sauly  Sanly  ivhtf 
pcrsccutest  thou  me  ?  I  am  Jesus,  whom  thou  persecU' 
test.     ver.  4,  5. 

3  q.     What  effect  had  this  upon  Saul  ? 

A.  He  trembled  and  ( ricd  out.  Lord,  what  wilt  thou 
have  me  to  do  ?  And  the  Lord  bi»l  him  arise,  and  go  to 
the  city  of  Damascijs,  and  there  he  sliould  'oe  told  his 
duty.     ver.  6. 

6  Q.     Did  Saul  obey  this  divine  visio^i  ? 

A,  He  rose  from  the  earth,  and  found  that  lie  wa^ 
struck  blind,  and  he  was  led  by  the  hand  into  Damascus, 
where  he  was  three  days  without  siglit  and  without  food, 
and  engaged  much  in  prayer,     tv r.  8 — 11. 

7  Q.     Who  was  sent  to  teach  him  his  duty  there  ? 
.i.    Ananias,  a  disciple,  was  ordered  by  tlie  Lord  in 


Q74  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  26. 

a  vision  to  go  to  him  in  the  house  where  he  lodged,  and 
to  restore  his  eye  sight,  ver.  11,  12,  and  to  tell  him  what 
honour  and  duty  God  had  appointed  for  him. 

8  Q.     Did  Ananias  go  willingly  on  this  errand  ? 

^,  He  was  at  first  afraid  to  go,  because  he  had  heard 
of  his  cruel  persecution  of  the  Christians ;  but  the 
Lord  assured  him  that  Saul  would  receive  him  because 
he  had  given  Saul  also  a  vision  of  one  Ananias  to  pre- 
pare him  for  his  coming,  ver.  10,  &c. 

9  Q.     How  did  Saul  recover  his  si^ht  ? 

.>j?.  Ananias  laid  his  hands  upon  him,  and  he  received 
his  sight,  and  was  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  was 
baptized,  ver.  17,  18. 

10  Q.    Who  appointed  Saul  at  first  to  be  a  preacher  ? 
./J.    The  Lord  Jesus  ordered  Ananias  to  tell  him, that 

God  had  chosen  him  to  know  his  will,  to  see  Jesus,  and 
to  be  a  witness  for  Christ  to  the  world.  *^cts  xxii.  14,  &c. 
And  some  time  after  that,  Christ  himself  in  another  vis- 
ion sent  him  to  preach  to  the  heathen  nations,  ver.  21. 

Ji'ofe  here.  In  St.  PauPs  rehearsal  of  this  matter  to  Agrippa, 
..^cts  xxvi.  16,  Sic.  Christ  himself  is  represented  as  giving  Paul 
his  first  commission  from  heaven  to  the  Gentiles  at  this  ^ime  : 
jet  it  has  been  questioned  w^hether  the  apostle  does  not  in  this 
rehearsal  join  together  all  that  Christ  said  to  him,  both  in  his 
first  vision  upon  the  road  to  Damascus,  and  his  second  vision  at 
Jerusalem  in  the  temple,  when  he  was  more  expressly  sent  to 
the  Gentiles,  Acts  xxii.  17,  18,  21,  but  this  is  too  large  a  debate 
to  be  assumed  here. 

1 1  ^.  How  did  Saul  employ  himself  after  this  won- 
derful appearance  ? 

A.  He  was  a  few  days  with  the  disciples  at  Damas- 
cus, and  be  soon  preached  Christ  in  the  syna^oj^ues,  that 
he  is  the  Son  of  God,  to  the  amazement  of  them  that 
heard  him.  ver.  IQ — 2r3. 

12  (^.  How  came  he  to  learn  and  preach  the  Gospel 
so  soon  ^ 

S.  It  is  generally  supposed  tliat  he  was  taught  the 
Gospel  by  Jesus  Christ  himself  in  the  three  days  of  \m 
blindness,  for  he  declares  he  learnt  it  not  from  mem 
Gall  1,  11—16. 


Chap.  20         SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  275 

13  Q.    Where  did  he  preach  the  Gospel  when  he 

went  from  Damascus  ? 
J.    Ill  Arabia,  and  he  returned  again  to  Damascus, 

and  did  not  j^o  up   to  the   apostles  at  Jerusalem   till 

three  years  after.     6?^/.  i.  17,  18. 
>^    14  Q.    AVhen  he  returned  to  Damascus,  how  did  the 
'- J\fws  bear  witli  him  ? 

''S.    They   watched  the  gates  night  and  day  to  slay 

him;  but  the  disciples  took  him  by  night,  and  let  him 

down  by  the  wall  in  a  basket  ^cts  ix.  23—25,  and  2  Cor. 

xi.  32,  33. 

15  Q,  When  he  came  ie  Jenjsalem  how  was  he  re- 
ceived oy  the  disciples  ? 

J.  They  were  all  afraid  of  him,  because  he  had  been 
so  great  a  persecutor  of  the  Christians  but  a  very  few 
years  before.  lyT*  26. 

16  ^.  How  were  they  persuaded  to  believe  that  he 
was  now  ti  disciple  of  Christ  ? 

A,  fiai-nabas  brought  him  to  the  apostles,  and  gave 
an  account  of  Christ's  calling  him  from  heaven,  and  his 
preaching  boldly  at  Damascus  in  tlie  name  of  Jesus,  ver, 

17  ^.    Who  was  Barnabas  ? 

Jl.  A  Levite  of  Cj'prus,  whose  name  was  Joses,  who 
was  a  zealous  disciple  of  Christ  and  a  preacher  of  the 
Gospel,  whom  the  apostles  surnamed  Barnabas,  that  is, 
the  son  of  consolation.     Jicis  iv.  36. 

18  Q      Did  Saul  preacli  Christ  at  Jerusalem  ? 

Jl.  Yes,  with  great  courage  ;  but  the  Grecians,  /that 
is,  the  Hellenist  or  Grecian  Jewsj  sought  to  slaj^him, 
and  then  the  brethren  persuaded  hira  to  retire  to  his  na- 
tive place.  Tarsus  in  Cilicia.     Jlcts  ix.  28 — 30. 

19  ({.  What  was  that  other  vision  which  he  had  of 
Christ  wl>en  he  was  at  Jerusalem  ? 

A.  As  he  was  prayini;  in  the  temple  he  saw  the  Lord, 
who  assured  him  that  the  Jews  would  not  receive  his 
witness  concerning  him,  and  hid  him  depart  from  Jeru- 
salem, for  that  he  would  send  him  to  the  Gentiles.  Jicts 
■■.■■    1-— oi. 


^76  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Cbap.  26. 

Js'ote.  Though  this  account  of  Paul's  seeing  Christ  in  the 
temple  at  Jerusalem,  seems  here  immediately  to  follow  the  ac- 
count of  his  conversion,  Ads  xxii.  16,  17,  yet  some  think  he 
had  not  this  vision  till  the  second  time  of  his  coming  to  Jerusa- 
lem. 

£0  Q,     Whither  was  Barnabas  sent  by  the  apostles  ? 

•5.  When  tliey  heard  of  the  great  success  of  the 
Gospel  in  foreign  countries,  they  sent  him  as  far  as  An- 
tioch  in  Syria  to  confirm  the  disciples.     Acts  xi.  22 — 24. 

Note.  This  great  success  of  the  Gospel  at  this  time,  was 
partly  among  the  Jews  who  resided  in  other  countries,  and 
partly  the  Jewish  proselytes  of  tlie  gate,  or  the  devout  persons, 
and  such  as  feared  God.     Acts  x.  17,  and  chap.  xiii.  16,  50. 

21  ^.  Whither  did  Barnabas  go  when  he  left  Anti- 
och  ? 

J.  He  went  to  Tarsus  to  seek  Saul,  awd  brought  him 
to  Antioch,  where  they  spent  a  whole  year  l<agether,  and 
there  the  disciples  were  first  called  Christiavs.  Acts 
xi.25,  26, 

22  Q.  What  further  commission  had  Barnabas  and 
Saul  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  the  Gentiles  ? 

A,  The  Holy  Spirit  appointed  the  prophets  and 
teachers  at  Antioch  to  separate  Barnabas  and  Saul  to 
the  work  to  which  he  had  calleil  them,  that  is,  to  preach 
to  the  idolatrous  Gentiles,  M-hich  they  did  by  fasting, 
prayer,  and  laying  on  their  hands.     Acts  xiii.  1 — S. 

23  Q.  Who  was  their  assistant  or  attendant  in  this 
journey  ? 

A.  John  Mark,  nephew  to  Barnabas.  Acts  xii.  25, 
xiii.  5.     Col.  iv.  10. 

24  ^.  What  opposition  did  they  meet  with  when 
they  came  to  Paphos  in  Cyprus  ? 

A»  When  Sergius  Paulus  tlie  governor  of  the  country 
sent  for  tliem,  that  he  might  hear  the  word  of  God, 
Elymas  a  Jew,  who  was  a  false  propliet  and  a  sorcerer, 
withstood  them,  in  order  to  prevent  the  governor  i'rom 
believing,  ver.  G — 8. 

25  Q.     How  was  Elymas  punished  for  this  crime  ? 
A..    Saul  (who  from  this  time  is  called  X^aul  in  Scrip- 


Cliap.  2a        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  277 

fare)  struck  liini  blind  with  his  won!,  upon  which  the 
governor  believed  in  Christ,  rfi*.  1 0 — 12. 

Ji'ote.  From  Paphos  they  went  to  Pamphylia  in  Asia,  and 
there  John  Mark  returned  to  Jerusalem,  and  left  Paul  and  Bar- 
nabas, rer.  13. 

26  Q.  Where  were  the  next  remarkable  labours  of 
Paul  and  Barnabas? 

•S.  Paul  preached  in  the  83rnagogue  of  tlie  Jews  at 
Antioch  in  Pisidia,  where  he  proved  Jesus  to  be  the 
promised  Saviour,  and  published  his  death  and  resurrec- 
tion, and  forgiveness,  of  sins  through  his  name.  Acts 
xiii.  14 — 41. 

27  Q.  What  effect  had  Paul's  preaching  upon  the 
inhabitants  of  that  city? 

*3.  Many  of  the  Jews,  filled  with  envy,  contradicted 
the  words  of  Paul,  and  blasphemed  Christ;  upon  which 
Paul  declared,  that  since  tiie  Jews  rejected  the  Gospel, 
they  would  turn  to  the  Gentiles,  according  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Lord.  ver.  45 — 47. 

28  Q.     Did  the  Gentiles  receive  the  Gospel  there  ? 
A.    Many  of  them  believed  the  word  of  the  Lord, 

which  seems  to  be  the  first  very  remarkable  conversion 
of  the  idolatrous  Gentiles:  but  the  Jews  pre\*ailed  so 
far  as  to  drive  Paul  and  Barnabas  out  of  their  coasts, 
who  shook  off  the  dust  of  their  feet  against  them,  ac- 
cording to  the  command  of  Christ,  ver.  4S — 51.  Matt. 
X.  14. 

29  O.     Whither  did  Barnabas  and  Paul  travel  next  ? 
A.     rhey  went  to  Iconium,  and  preached  the  Gos- 

l>el  with  some  success  tliere,  both  among  the  Jews  and 
Gentiles ;  till  bein^  in  danger  of  stoning,  tliey  fled  to 
I^ysti-a.     *icts  xiv.  1 — 6. 

SO  ({.  What  remarkable  occurrence  fell  out  at  Lys- 
tra? 

J].  A  man  that  was  born  a  cripple,  liearing  Paul 
preach,  was  healed  by  Paul,  and  he  lea|)ed  and  walked. 
ver.  8—10. 

31  Q.     How  did  this  miracle  affect  the  people  ? 

J,    They  supposed  Barnabas  and  Paul  to  be  two  of 


278  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        €hap.  26. 

their  gods,  namely,  Jupiter  and  Mercury,  who  were  come 
down  in  the  likeness  of  men ;  and  Barnabas  and  Paul 
had  much  ado  to  hinder  the  people  from  offering  sacri- 
fice to  them .  ver.  8 — 1 8. 

32  Q.    Did  the  people  continue  in  this  mind  ? 

J,  They  were  so  changeable,  that  by  the  persuasion 
of  certain  wicked  Jews,  they  quickly  stoned  Paul,  and 
left  him  for  deadL  ver.  9. 

33  Q.    How  did  Paul  escape  thence? 

Jl.  When  his  enemies  were  gone,  he  rose  up  and 
went  with  Barnabas  through  many  cities  where  they  had 
preached  the  Gospel  to  confirm  the  disciples  ;  and  then 
they  returned  to  Antioch  in  Syria,  from  whence  they 
had  been  sent  forth,  and  recommended  to  the  grace  of 
God.  ver.  20 — 27. 

34  Q.  What  new  troubles  arose  whik  they  were  at 
Antioch? 

d.  Some  Jewish  Christians  coming  from  Judea,  taught 
the  brethren  that  they  could  not  be  saved,  unless  they 
were  circumcised,  and  kept  the  law  of  Moses,  ^cts 
XV.  1. 

S5  Q.    How  was  this  controversy  determined  ? 

^.  Paul  and  Barnabas  were  sent  to  Jerusalem  to  tlw 
apostles  and  elders  about  this  question,  ver.  2. 

JVb/e.  It  is  probable  that  at  this  time  Paul  told  Peter,  James 
and  John,  of  the  liberty  of  the  Gospel,  -or  the  freedom  from  all 
Jewish  ceremonies,  Avhich  he  preached  to  the  Gentiles,  Gal. 
di.  1 — 9,  and  which  he  calls  his  Gospel,  being  evidently  the 
japostle  of  the  Gentiles.     GaL  ii.  7 — 9,  and  1  Tim.,  ii.  7. 

36  Q.     How  did  the  apostles  and  elders  decide  it? 

^.  First,  Peter  declared  that  the  Gentiles  had  receiv- 
ed the  Gospel  from  his  mouth,  as  well  as  the  Jews;  and 
there  was  now  no  ditterence  between  them,  since  God 
had  declared  his  acceptance  of  them  by  giving  them  the 
Holy  Spirit,  and  tliat  without  circumcision.  Secondly, 
Barnabas  and  Paul  rehearsed  what  wondrous  success 
God  had  given  to  their  ministry  among  the  Gentiles,  and 
what  miracles  were  wrought  among  them :  then  James 
.delivered  hisL opinion,  that  since  tlie  Gentiles  liad  receiv- 
ed the  Goj^l,  as  it  was  foretold  by  the  prophets,  they 


Chap.  26.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  279 

should  not  be  burdened  with  circumcision  and  other  Jew- 
ish ceremonies:  upon  which,  at  last,  the  apostles  and 
ciders,  and  the  whole  church,  sent  a  message  to  Antioch, 
and  other  countnes,  that  the  Gentile  converts  were  not 
bound  by  the  Jewish  laws  :  yet,  by  the  direction  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  they  required  them  at  that  time  to  abstain 
from  meats  offered  to  idols,  from  eating  bhodyfroni 
things  strangled,  and  from  fornication,  ver.  6—30. 

37  ^.  Why  were  these  few  things  so  particularly 
forbid  to  the  Gentile  converts  ? 

J.  Some  suppose  these  were  the  things  always  for- 
bidden to  the  Jewish  proselytes  of  the  gate.  See  J^ote 
on  Q.  20.  And  that  it  would  have  given  too  much  of- 
fence to  the  Jews,  as  well  as  to  those  proselytes,  if  the 
apostles  had  not  required  the  Gentile  converts  to  obser\'e 
tliese  rules,  at  least  for  the  present  season. 

JVb/e.  Fornication  was  a  thing  always  unlawful  in  itself,  yet 
here  other  things  are  joined  with  it  which  are  not  sinful  in  their 
own  nature  :  because  the  eating  of  blood  and  things  offered  to 
idols  were  frequently  attended  with  fornication  and  impurity, 
among  the  Gentiles  at  their  idolatrous  feasts;  and  therefore  this 
fin  of  fornication  is  expressly  forbidden  here,  to  put  the  Chris- 
tians  always  in  mind  of  the  unlawfulness  of  it ;  and  more  par- 
ticularl}',  because  some  professed  Christians  in  that  age  prt^- 
tended  it  to  be  lawful,  such  as  the  Gnostice,  Nicolaitans,  &c. 

Abstinence  from  things  offered  to  idols  seems  to  be  but  a 
temporary  command,  for  particuhir  times  and  places  ;  since  it  is 
permitted  in  some  ca.^es  by  the  apostle,  namely,  where  it  gives 
no  oflrncc.  1  Cor.  x.  19 — 31.  And  abstine.nct  from  blood, 
not  being  in  itself  unlawful,  seenjs  to  stand  on  the  same  foot : 
for  it  is  plain,  Jhat  the  reason  given  agaiiuit  eating  blood  is,  be- 
cause it  was  uevoted  to  Cod  to  make  atonement  for  sin.  Lev. 
xvii.  10 — 14.  And  the  blood  of  beasts  slain  for  food  was  to  be 
poured  out  on  (he  ground,  btcanse  the  life.,  or  most  noble  part 
of  the  creature,  teas  contained  in  it  ;  and  was  devoted  to  God, 
as  a  sort  of  first-fruits,  to  sanctify  the  rest  for  the  eater's  use. 
But  now,  the  blood  of  Christ  having  made  full  atonement  for 
sin,  and  all  sorts  of  food  under  the  New  Testament  being  sanc- 
tified to  the  eater  by  the  xcord  and  prayer.,  I  Tim.  iv.  3 — 5, 
blood  has  neither  of  these  uses  continued  ;  and  is  therefore  one 
of  those  meats  which  may  be  eaten  with  thanksgiving,  though 
it  was  forbidden  at  first  for  a  season,  together  with  meats  offered 
to  idols,  lest  the  Jews  and  pro^  lvt»s  r-hdnl.l  t;tkf  ofr» ncp. 


38a  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  26 

58  Q.  What  were  the  next  travels  of  Paul  and  Bar- 
nabas ? 

Jl,  They  determined  to  visit  their  brethren  in  every 
city  vvliere  they  had  preached  the  Gospel  ;  but  they 
could  not  agree  about  taking  John  Mark  for  their  assist- 
ant, because  he  had  left  them  before  in  the  middle  of 
tiieir  work,     ver,  36 — 38. 

39  ^.  How  was  this  oonfention  ended  between  Bar- 
nabas and  Paul r 

^.  Barnabas  took  Mark,  and  sailed  to  Cyprus ;  Paul 
chose  Silas,  (who  had  been  sent  with  tliem  from  Jerusa- 
lem to  Antioch)  and  went  through  Syria  and  Cilicia, 
confirming  the  churches,    ver,  39 — 41. 

40  q.     Where  did  Paul  meet  with  Timothy? 

Jl,  He  was  a  young  disciple  at  Lystra,  the  son  of  a 
Jewish  woman,  and  Paul  took  him  for  their  companion 
in  the  ministry ;  and  they  travelled  through  many  part& 
of  that  country  which  is  now  called  the  Lesser  Asia. 
Jlcts  xvi.  1 — 8. 

JVo/e.  Asia  is  a  large  country,  one  quarter  of  the  world. 
The  Lesser  Asia  is  the  same  with  Natolia,  a  square  country  be- 
tween the  Euxine  Sea  and  the  Mediterranean.  But  the  Asia 
%vhich  the  Scripture  so  frequently  speaks  of  in  the  Acts,  seems 
to  be  but  a  small  part  of  this  Lesser  Asia,  including,  only  Phrygia, 
Mysia,  Caria  and  Lybia,  which  are  washed  on  the  west  bj  the 
^Egean  Sea  ;  and  Avhere  the  famous  seven  churches  were. 
Rtv.  i.  11. 

41  Q.  Where  was  the  next  remarkable  place  of  their 
ministry  ? 

^i.    They  were  invited  to  Macedonia  by  a  vision,  and      n 
they  went  to  Philippi,  a  chief  city  of  that  country,  and 
preached  there  with  some  success,    ver.  9 — 15. 

iN'ote.  Here  it  is  probable  that  Luke,  who  wrote  the  Acts 
of  the  Apostles^  became  a  companion  of  Paul,  because  from  thi<» 
time  he  uses  the  word  we  in  his  history. 

42  Q.    What  miracle  was  wrought  there  ?  ^ 
.5,    They  cast  a  devil  out  of  a  certain  youn^  woman,   0 

who  brought  much  gain  to  her  masters  by  foretelling 
things  to  come.    fpr.  16 — 18. 


Chap.a6.         SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  181 

43  Q.  How  did  her  masters  bear  it  when  they  saw 
their  gains  were  gone  r 

Ji.  They  brought  Paul  and  Silas  to  the  magistrates, 
and  charged  them  with  teaching  strange  customs ; 
whereupon  they  were  beaten'  and  imprisoned,  and  their 
feet  made  fast  in  the  stocks,    ver.  19 — 24. 

44  Q.     How  were  thev  released  thence? 

A,.  At  midniglit  Paul  and  Silas  prayed,  and  sang 
praises  to  God ;  the  prison  was  sliaken  with  an  earth- 
quake, the  doors  opened,  their  bands  were  loosed;  upon 
which  the  gaoler  awaking,  was  going  to  kill  himself, 
supposing  tiie  prisoners  had  been  fled.     ver.  25 — 27. 

45  O,     How  was  this  self-murder  prevented  ? 

A*  Paul  and  Silas  shewed  themselves  as  his  prison- 
ers, preached  the  Gospel  to  him  ;  upon  which  he  believed, 
and  he  and  his  house  were  baptized,     ver.  28 — 34. 

46  Q.     But  did  the  magistrates  then  dismiss  them  ? 
A.     Yes  ;   they  desired  them  to  depart  when  they 

knew  they  were  Romans,  because  they  had  beaten  and 
imprisoned  them  uncondemned.     ver.  35 — 40. 

47  ^.  What  trials  did  they  meet  with  at  Thessa^ 
lonica  t 

A.  Many  Greeks  and  Jews  were  converted  there  ; 
but  the  unbelieving  Jews  there  rose  up  against  them,  and 
almost  in  every  city  where  they  came ;  and  they  went 
next  to  Berea.    Acts  xvii.  1—10. 

48  Q.  What  was  the  wise  and  generous  conduct  of 
the  Bereaos? 

A.  Tliey,  that  is,  the  Jews  of  Berea,  searched  the 
Scriptures  daily ^  to  find  whether  Paul  and  Silas  taught 
i}\Q.  truth  ;  and  by  this  practice  many  of  them  were  led 
to  believe  in  Christ,    reiv  10 — 13. 

49  Q,.  In  what  manner  did  Paul  preach,  when  he 
came  to  Athens  ? 

A.  He  disputed  with  the  Jews  in  their  synagojjues, 
with  the  devout  persons,  and  with  the  heathen  philoso- 
phers in  the  market  place  ;  and  on  Mars  Hill  he  took 
occasion  to  preach  tlie  true  Gwl  to  the  people  from  are 
altar  he  found,  inscribed,  To  the  Unknown  God,  rer- 
16—30. 


2S2  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  26» 

50  Q.  But  did  he  not  also  preach  Jesus  Christ  and 
the  Gospel  ? 

.^.  Yes ;  by  preaching  natural  religion  first,  he  led 
them  by  degrees  to  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  and  assured 
them  that  Jesus  Christ  was  appointed  to  be  the  Jud^e  of 
the  world,  and  that  God  had  raised  him  from  the  dead> 
as  a  sure  token  of  it.    ver.  ."^O,  SI. 

51  ^.    What  employment  had  Paul  at  Corinth  ? 

A.  He  there  met  with  Aquila,  a  believing  Jew,  with, 
his  wife  Priscilla,  and  wrought  with  him  at  his  trade,  for 
they  were  both  tent-makers;  but  he  preached  in  the 
Jewish  synagogue  every  sabbath.    *Scts  xviii.  1 — 4. 

52  Q.    What  effect  had  his  preaching  there  ? 

^.  He  continued  there  by  orders^  received  from 
Christ  in  a  vision  a  year  and  six  months ;  and  some 
Jews  and  many  Gentiles  believed  and  were  baptized, 
var.  5—11. 

53  Q.     What  persecution  did  he  meet  with  there  ? 
A,    The  Jews  brought  him  before  Gallio  the  deputy 

governor,  but  he  wisely  refused  to  take  cognizance  of 
any  of  their  controversies  about  religion,  unless  they 
could  have  charged  him  with  some  wickedness  or  in* 
justice,  ver,  12 — 16,. 

J^ate  1.  Though  Paul  found  such  great  and  remarkable  sue- 
eess  in  his  ministry  among  the  Corinthians,  yet  by  the  means 
of  some  false  brethren,  and  some  ambitious  pretenders  to  apos-. 
tleship,  there  were  such  factions  and  contentions  raised  in  this 
church  that  cost  him  much  sorrow  of  heart.  And  this  was  in- 
creased by  the  irregular  lives  and  immoral  practices  of  some  of 
fiis  converts  tliere,  which  occasioned  his  writing  two  large  and 
excellent  epistles  to  them. 

.ATo/c  2.  It  ifi  thought  most  probable  that  Paul,  who  went 
from  Corinth  to  Cenchrea,  and  Ephesus,  left  Aquila  and  Pris- 
cilla at  Ephesus,  where  they  instructed  Apollos,  a  fervent 
preacher,  a  disciple  of  John  Baptist,  in  the  Gospel  of  Christ  i 
but  that  Paul  himself  went  to  Jerusalem  to  the  feast,^  and  re- 
turned to  Ephesus  again  before  Aquila  went  thence,  and  before 
his  great  success  at  Ephesus  began  ;  which  is  related  in  the  very 
Oext  chapter,  namely,  the  19th. 

54  q.  When  Paul  came  to  Epiiesus,  what  remarka- 
ble occurrences  did  he  mecit  with  there  ? 


Chap.  26.       SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  2ff5 

Ji.  He  found  some  persons  who  were  baptized  only 
unto  John's  baptism,  and  he  preached  Jesus  Clirist  to 
them,  and  they  believed,  and  were  bapti/.ed  in  the  name 
of  Christ ;  ami  wlicn  Paul  laid  his  lianfis  on  them,  thej 
received  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  spake  witli  tonj;ues.  Acts 
xix.  1 — 7. 

53  <J.  How  did  he  perform  the  rest  of  his  ministry 
there  ? 

A,    Three  months  he  preached  tlie  Gospel  in   the 
Jewish  synagogue ;  but  when  the  Jews  were  hardened 
against  hini,  he  taught  the  same  Gospel  in  the  school  of 
one  Tyrannus  for  near  two  years,  and  healed  many  dis^ 
eases,  and  cast  out  evil  spirits,     ivr.  8 — 12. 

56  Q.  Was  lie  not  persecuted  by  the  heathens  in 
this  place  ? 

J.  When  Demetrius,  a  silversmit'i,  who  made  silver 
shrines  for  the  goddess  Diana,  (w!»ose  famous  templa 
stood  at  Ephesus)  fouiul  that  the  worship  of  the  goddess 
declined  through  Paul's  preaching,  he  stirred  up  the 
men  of  his  trade,  and  by  them  a  multitude  of  people 
were  raised  against  Paul,  so  that  he  was  in  danger  oC 
his  life,     vei\  24—29. 

57  ({.     How  did  he  escape  here  ? 

A,  The  town  clerk  finding  such  a  rude  tumult,  with 
soft  words  composed  and  quiete<l  them,  and  bid  Deme- 
trius go  fairly  to  law,  if  any  man  had  injured  iiim.  ver. 
29 — 41.  The  uproar  being  thus  composed,  Paul  took 
his  leave  of  the  disciples,  and  after  several  short  jour- 
Bies  and  labours  in  the  (iospel  in  those  parts  he  came 
to  Troas.    Acts  xx.  1 — 6. 

58  Q.  Was  there  any  thing  of  importance  fell  out 
in  the  seven  days  while  f'aul  tarried  at  Troas  ? 

A.  Paul  preached  and  broke  bread  on  tlie  first  day 
of  the  week,  and  continuing  his  speech  till  midnight,  a 
young  man  named  Eutychus  slept  and  fell  down  from 
iitie  third  story,  and  was  taken  up  dead.    Acts  xx.  6 — 9. 

J9  Q.    How  was  the  young  man  recovered  ? 

A.  Paul  fell  on  him  and  embraced  him,'and  brought 
W\m  alive  before  them.     ver.  10 — 12. 

60  (^.    What  exhortation  did  Paul  give  at  Miletus  S^ 


284  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  26. 

Jl,  He  sent  to  Ephesus,  and  called  the  elders  of  the 
church  ;  made  a  most  affectionate  discourse  to  them  ;  bid 
them  Take  heed  to  themselves,  and  to  the  church  of  God, 
which  he  had  purchased  with  his  own  blood  ;  warned 
them  of  grievous  wolves  that  should  enter  into  the  flock  ; 
encouraged  them  to  persevere  in  faith  and  holiness,  and 
recommended  them  to  God  and  the  word  of  his  grace. 
ver,  17—35. 

61  Q.     Whither  did  Paul  travel  next  ? 

j3.  He  hastened  to  Jerusalem  by  many  journies,  and 
voyages,  travelling  through  several  cities,  though  he 
was  dissuaded  from  it  by  many  disciples ;  and  was  par- 
ticularly told  by  Agabus,  a  Christian  prophet,  that  he 
should  be  bound  at  Jerusalem,  and  delivered  into  the 
hands  of  the  Gentiles.-  Jlcts  xx.  16,  and  xxi.  1 — 15. 

62  Q.  In  what  manner  did  Agabus  deliver  this 
prophecy  ? 

Jl.  He  bound  his  own  hands  and  feet  with  Paul's 
girdle  and  said,  Tfius  saith  the  Holy  Spirit,  so  shall 
the  Jews  at  Jerusalem  hind  the  man  that  owns  this 
girdle,     ver.ll. 

63  Q.  What  was  the  noble  speech  and  resolution  of 
Paul  on  this  occasion? 

^.  When  the  brethren  wept  at  the  thoughts  of  his 
sufferings,  he  answered,  TFhat  mean  ye,  to  weep  and  to 
break  my  heart  ?  For  1  am  ready  not  to  be  bound  only, 
but  to  die  at  Jerusalem  for  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 
Acts  XXI.  12,  IS. 

64  Q.  What  was  the  first  thing  he  did  when  h& 
came  to  Jerusalem. 

^.  He  went  to  James  the  apostle,  and  to  the  elders,, 
and  declared  what  God  had  wrought  by  his  ministry 
among  the  Gentiles.    Jets  xxi.  If — 20. 

J^ote.  Here  he  now  published  freely  to  the  whole  church 
his  success  among:  idolaters,  which  he  had  communicated  only 
before  privately,  and  to  a  few.     GaL  ii.  2. 

65  Q,  What  advice  did  the  ejders  at  Jerusalem  give 
him? 


Chap.  26.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  285 

ji.  Thej  advised  him  to  shave  ami  purifj  himself 
by  an  offering,  after  the  manner  of  the  Jews,  who  had 
the  vow  of  the  Nazarite  upon  them,  JS\imb.  vi.  that  he 
mis;ht  not  be  suspected  of  disobeving  tlie  Jewish  law, 
eitlier  by  the  believing  or  unbelieving  Jews,  who  were 
all  zealous  for  it    r^r.  2() — 25. 

Xole.  lliis  compliance-  of  St.  Paul  being  recommended  to 
I  ini  by  one  apostle,  namt-ly,  James,  and  by  the  elders  at  Jeru- 

afem,  Acts  xxi.  18,  20,  k.c.  and  b(;ins:  put  in  practice  by  him- 
self, who  wap,  perhaps,  the  chief  of  the  apostles,  we  cannot 
reasonably  suppose  it  sinful  or  blame-worthy,  especiidly  since 
tiie  Scripture  passes  no  censure  on  it :  and  yet  must  we  not 
say  the  religiouB  ceremonies  of  the  Jews,  and  particularly  all 
the  sin-offering:?',  (suclj  as  this  was,  Xumb.  vi.  14,)  were  abol- 
ished by  the  great  sacrifice  of  Christ,  and  the  introductioit  of 
Christianity  by  the  Holy  Ghost  at  pentecost  ? — In  order  there- 
fore to  vindicate  tliis  practice  of  St.  Paul,  we  may  consider  the 
Jewish  ceremonies  under  a  twofold  aspect;  1.  As  they  were 
part  of  their  national  laws,  under  God  as  their  King  ;  and,  2. 
As  part  of  ^^ir  religious  Avorsbip  paid  to  him  as  their  God. 
Now  the  Jewisii  state  hems:  not  yet  destroyed,  may  we  not  sup- 
pose that  St.  Paul  niiglit  comply  with  thesQ  practices  as  a  part 
of  the  national  Jewish  laws,  rather  than  as  a  religious  worship? 
for  he  every  where  declared  the  Gentiles  to  be  free  from  them. 
Or,  if  we  consider  these  ceremonies  only  in  tht^r  religious 
d<  sign,  may  wc  not  suppose,  that  from  the  death  of  Christ, 
whicli  Mas  the  substantial  sacrifice,  these  shadows  so  far  van- 
ished, that  they  ceased  to  be  necessary,  but  were  left,  for  a 
season,  as  indifferent  things  to  the  Jews,  which,  as  the  apostle 
*-xpresses,   Htb.  viii.   13,  were  decaying^  and  tra-rm?  old  and 

eady  to  ranish  away  /  May  we  not  suppose  the  divine  indul- 
-(•ihce  of  them  for  a  season,  because  of  tl>e  weakness  of  man- 
kind, who  cannot  easily  bear  a  universal  change  of  their  an- 
ci«  nl  customs  all  at  onie?  And  for  this  reason,  lest  the  Jews 
«h'juld  take  too  peat  offence,  St.  Paul  took  Timothy  and  cir- 
cumcised him,  m  order  to  make  him  a  preacher,  since  his 
mother  was  a  Jewess,  ^cts  xvi.  1,  3,  this  being  a  lawful  thing 
to  him,  though  not  necessary.  At  the  same  time  he  would 
not  have  Titus  circumcised,  because  he  was  a  Gentilq 
who  had  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  Jewish  laM-.  Gal.  ii.  3. 
And  the  same  apostle  being  a  Jew,  for  the  same  reason  might 
comply  with  the  Jewish  rites  of  shaving  his  head,  and  sacrificing, 
.->;  things  left  indifferent  to  the  Jews  for  a  season,  by  the  will  of 
(;-.,4    ;.,    Ainpliynce  with  tfic  ^\eitkn<.s-  of  man. 


286  SCRIPTCTRE  HISTORY.        Chap.  9.6, 

66  Q.  Did  this  piece  of  compliance  secure  Paul 
from  the  persecution  of  the  Jews  ? 

Jl.  The  unbelieving  Jews  had  such  a  rooted  hatred 
against  him  for  his  zeal  and  success  in  preaching  up 
Christianity,  that  they  seized  him  under  pretence  of  his 
having  brought  Greeks  into  the  temple,  though  it  was 
not  true  ;  and  they  were  ready  to  tear  him  to  pieces,  till 
the  chief  captain  rescued  him,  and  gave  him  leave  to 
give  an  account  of  himself  to  the  multitude,  ver,  27—40. 

67  Q.     What  defence  did  Paul  then  make  ? 

d.  He  gave  them  tlie  history  of  his  being  a  Jew  by 
birth,  and  brought  up  at  the  feet  of  Gamaliel,  in  Jerusa- 
lem ;  of  his  former  zeal  against  Christ,  his  being  struck 
down  to  the  ground  on  the  road,  and  called  to  from  hea- 
ven by  Jesus  Christ ;  and  also  of  his  vision  of  Christ 
in  the  temple,  sending  him  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  the 
Gentiles.     Jets  xxii.  1 — 21. 

68  Q.    How  did  the  Jews  bear  this  speecji  ? 

•4.  When  he  spake  of  being  sent  to  the  ^xentileSy  they 
lifted  up  their  voices  and  said,  Jlway  with  such  a  fellow 
from  the  earth,  for  it  is  not  fit  he  should  live,  ver,  22. 

69  Q.     How  was  he  secured  from  their  rage  ? 

Jt.  The  chief  captain  again  seized  him,  and  brought 
him  into  the  castle,  and  the  next  day  he  ordered  the  chief 
priests  and  the  council  to  appear,  that  Paul  might  give 
an  account  of  himself  to  them,  ver,  24 — 30. 

70  Q.  How  did  Paul  plead  his  own  cause  here  be- 
fore the  council  ? 

Jl.  He  found  one  part  was  Sadducees,  who  denied 
the  resurrection,  and  the  other  part  Pharisees,  who  be- 
lieved it ;  and  therefore  he  artfully,  and  yet  truly  de- 
clared. It  is  for  the  hope  of  the  resurrection  of  the  dead 
1  am  called  in  question  .*  for  indeed  the  resurrection  of 
Christ  from  the  dead,  and  our  resurrection  by  him,  were 
some  of  the  greatest  articles  of  the  Christian  faith,  and 
that  which  Paul  preached.    Jlcts  xxxiii.  6,  7. 

71  Q.    What  effect  had  this  upon  the  council  ? 

J[.  They  fell  into  contention  among  themselves,  and 
the  Pharisees  said,  they  found  no  evil  in  him;  and  again 
the  chief  captain  secured  him  in  the  castle,  ver.  9,  10. 


€hap.2G.        SCRIPTURE   HISTORY.  287 

72  §.  What  particular  encouragement  had  Paul 
from  heaven  under  these  suffenno:s  ? 

^i.  It  was  this  night  that  the  Lord  Jesus  appeared  to 
him  and  said.  Be  of  good  cheer,  Paul,  for  as  tliou  hnst 
testified  of  vie  in  Jerusalem,  so  must  thou  hear  witness 
also  at  Rome.    Jicts  xxiii.  11. 

73  Q.  What  was  the  next  danger  he  was  exposed 
to? 

•^.  More  than  forty  Jews  had  bound  themselves  un- 
iler  a  great  curse,  not  to  eat  till  they  had  killed  Paul ; 
and  therefore  they  persuaded  the  chief  priests  and  elders 
to  desire  that  he  might  once  again  be  brought  before  them. 
ver,  13 — 15 

74  Q.  By  what  means  did  tlie  providence  of  God 
secure  Paul  from  this  conspiracy  ? 

A.  Claudius  Lysias,  the  cliief  captain,  having  private 
notice  of  this  conspiracy  from  Paul's  nepliew,  sent  him 
to  Cesarea,  to  Felix  tlie  governor  of  Judea,  by  night, 
with  a  guard  of  almost  five  hundred  men.  ver.  1(3 — 35. 

75  (^,  What  was  i\\e  next  step  taken  by  the  high 
priests  and  elders  to  condemn  Paul,  and  how  did  Paul 
defend  himself? 

A,  They  went  down  to  Cesarea,  and  laid  their  accu- 
sation before  Felix :  but  Paul  defended  himself  by  de- 
claring, he  believed  the  law  and  the  prophets  ;  nor  was 
he  guilty  of  profaning  the  temple,  or  raising  a  tumult, 
nor  of  anv  thmg  of  which  tliey  accused  him.    Acts  xxiv. 

76  ^.     What  did  Felix  determine  concerning  himr 
A.     Felix  only  kept  him  as  a  prisoner  ;  for  he  saw  no 

reason  to  condemn  him ;  and  often  discoursed  with  him, 
hoping  that  Paul  or  his  friends  would  give  him  a  good 
bribe  for  a  release,  ver.  22 — 28. 

77  ^.  Had  Paul's  discourses  any  good  effect  upon 
Felix? 

A.  Once,  as  he  spoke  concerning  faith  in  Christ  and 
reasoned  of  righteousness,  temperance,  and  judgment 
to  come,  Felix  trembled,  and  bill  Paul  retire  tdl  he  had 
a  more  convenient  season  to  hear  him  further,  ver.  24, 
25.  But  he  kept  him  prisoner  still  to  please  the  Jews. 
ver.  27. 


£88  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap.  26. 

78  Q.  Did  the  high  priests  and  elders  entirely  drop 
their  accusations  against  Paul  ? 

»4.  Two  years  after  this,  Festus  was  made  governor 
in  the  room  of  Felix,  and  the  Jews  went  to  Cesarea,  and 
laid  grievous  complaints  against  him.  ^cts  xxiv.  27, 
and  XXV.  2. 

79  Q.    How  did  Paul  come  off  before  Festus  ? 

.5.  He  utterly  denied  tlie  chai-ge  of  the  Jews :  and 
when  Festus  would  have  had  him  go  up  to  Jerusalem  to 
be  judged  of  these  matters,  as  the  Jews  desired,  in  hopes 
to  kill  him  by  the  way;  Paul  told  Festus,  that  he  knew 
very  well  he  had  done  the  Jews  no  wrong,  that  no  man 
ought  to  deliver  him  up  to  the  hands  of  the  Jews,  and 
therefore  he  appealed  to  Ccesar,  ver.  9 — 12. 

80  ^.  What  occasion  had  Paul  then  to  plead  his 
cause  again  before  Agrippa,  who  was  the  king  of  Gal- 
ilee ? 

*^,  Agrippa,  with  his  sister  Bernice,  came  to  make  a 
visit  to  Festus  ;  upon  which  Festus,  among  other  conver- 
sation, informed  him  that  he  was  going  to  send  Paul  the 
prisoner  to  Caesar  upon  his  appeal,  and  he  would  fain 
send  to  Csesar  a  more  particular  account  of  the  case  ; 
upon  which  Agrippa  desired  to  hear  Paul  himself,  ver. 
13—27. 

81  Q.  What  was  the  substance  of  Paul's  speech  to 
Agrippa  ? 

^.  Paul  knew  that  Agrippa  was  acquainted  with 
the  laws  and  customs  of  the  Jews,  and  therefore  he 
related  before  him  in  brief  the  history  of  his  younger 
life,  as  a  Pharisee ;  his  hatred  of  the  Christians  ;  his  be* 
ing  called  by  Jesus  Christ  from  heaven,  when  he  was  on 
the  road  to  Damascus ;  and  his  preaching  the  resurrec- 
tion of  Christ  and  his  Gospel  ever  since;  which  he 
maintained  to  be  all  agreeable  to  Moses  and  the  pro- 
phets.    ^Slcts  xxvi.  1 — 23. 

82  Q.  What  influence  had  this  speech  upon  Agrip- 
pa ? 

^,  Paul  addressed  king  Agrippa  in  so  agreeable  a 
manner,  that  Agrippa  declared  that  he  was  almost  per^ 
suaded  to  be  a  Christian  ;  and  that  Paul  had  done  no- 


Chap.  26.         SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  289 

thing  worthy  of  death,  or  of  bonds  ;  and  that  he  might 
have  been  set  at  liberty,  if  he  had  not  appealed  to  Ceesar. 
ver.  26 — 32. 

83  Q.    How  was  Paul  sent  to  Caesar  at  Rome  ? 

Ji,  lie  was  sent  thither  by  sea,  with  several  other 
prisoners,  and  soldiers  to  guard  them  :  they  had  a  voj^ 
age  of  the  utmost  danger,  through  storms  and  dark 
weather,  wliich  Paul  foresaw,  and  warned  the  sailor^  of 
it.  They  were  at  last  shipwrecked,  but  all  escaped  safe 
to  land  as  Paul  had  assured  them  by  a  vision  ot  an  an- 
gel. The  name  of  the  island  was  called  Melita,  now 
Alalta.     ^cts  xxvii. 

84  ^.  Was  there  any  remarkable  occurrence  fell 
out  there  ? 

^i.  The  rain  and  the  cold  made  them  kindle  a  fire, 
and  there  came  a  viper  from  among  the  sticks  and  fast- 
ened on  Paul's  hand  ;  but  he  shook  it  otf,  and  felt  no 
harm.    »Scts  xxviii.  1 — 5. 

85  Q.  What  did  the  barbarous  people  of  tlie  island 
think  of  this  when  they  saw  it  ? 

•'i.  They  thought  at  first  this  man  was  a  murderer, 
and  vengeance  pursued  him  at  land,  though  he  had  es- 
caped the  sea :  but  when  they  saw  him  shake  oif  the 
viper  and  no  harm  come  to  him,  they  changed  tlieir  minds, 
and  said  he  was  a  god.  ver,  4 — 6. 

86  Q.  What  entertainment  did  they  meet  with  upon 
the  island  ? 

^.  Publius,  the  chief  man  there,  lodged  him  three 
days ;  Paul  prayed  and  healed  his  father  ofa  bloody-flux, 
by  laying  on  his  hands  ;  upon  which  many  other  diseased 
persons  came  and  were  healed,  ver.  7' — 9. 

87  Q,     How  long  did  they  tarry  there  ? 

•9.  They  tarried  three  montlis,  because  it  was  win- 
ter; and  then  sailed  again,  and  landed  in  Italy,  and 
travelled  towards  Rome.  ver.  11 — 13. 

88  Q.  How  was  Paul  disposed  of  when  he  came 
into  the  city  .^ 

*^,    He  was  suffered  to  dwell  by  himself  with  a  sol- 
dier that  kept  him.  ver.  16. 
26 


290  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.        Chap,  26^. 

89  ^.  What  was  Paul's  first  work  when  he  came  t« 
Rome  ? 

Ji.  In  three  day's  time  he  sent  for  the  chief  of  the 
Jews  that  were  in  the  city,  and  excused  himself  to  them 
that  he  was  constrained  to  appeal  unto  Caesar ;  and  af- 
Jierwards  on  a  day  appointed,  he  preached  the  Gospel  of 
Christ  to  them  out  of  the  law  of  Moses  and  the  prophets. 
ver.  17 — 23. 

90  Q.  What  effect  had  this  sermon  of  Paul  on  the 
Jews  at  Rome  ? 

A,  They  were  much  divided;  some  believed  the 
Gospel,  and  others  opposed  it :  upon  which  Paul  an- 
swered, that  the  salvation  of  God  is  sent  to  the  Gentiles^ 
and  they  will  hear  it.  ver,  24,  28. 

91  Q.     How  long  did  Paul  continue  there  ? 

A.  He  dwelt  two  whole  years  in  his  own  hired  house, 
and  preached  the  things  concerning  Christ  to  all  that 
would  come  to  hear  him.  ver,  29 — 31. 

J^ote.  Here  ends  the  history  of  the  book  of  Scripture,  call- 
ed the  .^cts  of  the  Apostles.  AVhat  remains  is  collected  from 
the  epistles  of  Paul. 

92  Q.  Since  several  of  the  epistles  of  Paul  are  said 
to  be  written  from  Rome,  which  are  those  which  he  is 
supposed  to  write  at  this  time  ? 

J.  Those  to  the  Philippians,  Ephesians,  Colossians, 
and  to  Philemon  ;  and  he  tells  them,  he  shall  soon  come 
to  them :  and  about  this  time  his  bonds  were  manifest  in 
all  the  place,  having  continued  there  so  long.  Phil.  i. 
13,26.     Eph.m.SO.     Col.  W.  IS.     Philenu9,2Q. 

93  Q.  When  he  was  released  from  prison  at  Rome, 
whither  did  he  go  ? 

»B.  Into  several  countries  both  of  Europe  and  Asia, 
preaching  the  Gospel,  and  confirming  the  Christian  con- 
verts. 

94  Q.  Who  attended  and  assisted  liim  in  his  minis- 
try and  his  travels  ^ 

Jl.  Sometimes  Tychicus,  or  Timothy;  sometimes 
Titus,  Demas,  or  Luke,  Silas,  or  Trophimus,  whom  he 


Chap.  26.        SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.  291- 

left  sick  at  Miletum  when  he  went  again  to  Rome.    See 
2  Tim.  iv.  10— liZ. 

95  Q.  What  became  of  liini  when  he  came  the  scp 
cond  time  to  Rome  ? 

*^.  He  was  cast  into  close  prison,  and  when  he  mad6 
his  first  defence  all  men  forsook  him  ;  and  Alexander 
the  copper-smitli  did  him  mucli  hurt.  1  Tim.  iv.  14 — 16. 

96  Q.     Did  he  finish  his  life  and  labours  here  ? 

^.  He  now  tells  Timothy  tliat  the  time  of  his  de- 
parture is  at  hand,  and  he  was  just  ready  to  be  offered 
up,  wlien  he  wrote  the  second  epistle  to  him  from  Rome. 
2  Tim.  iv.  6.  And  when, he  had  both  laboured  and  suf- 
fered more  than  any  of  the  apostles,  as  he  himself  had 
told  us,  1  Cor.  XV.  10.  2  Cor.  xi.  23,&c.  he  was  behead- 
ed, as  a  martyr  for  Christ,  under  the  reign  of  Nero,  em-- 
peror  of  Rome,  as  the  ancient  historians  inform  us. 

My  design  in  writing  this  summary  of  Scripture 
History,  by  way  of  (jucstion  and  answer,  was  chief- 
ly for  the  easier  instruction  of  the  younger  part  of 
mankind,  and  not  so  much  for  the  improvement  of 
the  learned ;  for  which  reason  I  have  not  been  so- 
licitous to  trace  out,  with  a  critical  and  chi-onologi- 
cal  accuracy,  every  step  of  the  travels  of  Paul ; 
nor  relate  how  often  he  went  to  Jerusalem,  and  to 
other  cities,  in  repeated  voyages  and  journies ;  but 
only  to  point  out  his  most  remarkable  travels,  la- 
bours, and  sutferings.  A  more  exact  account  is 
drawn  up,  with  great  labour  and  skill,  by  a  learned 
writer,  in  his  book  entitled,  Miscellanea  !!<acra^  Vol.  L 
to  which  I  would  refer  those  who  desire  a  fuller 
information  of  this  matter.  ^ 

The  principal  thing  I  had  in  view,  from  the  begin- 
ning to  the  end  of  this  work,  was  to  set  down  some 
of  the  most  necessary  and  the  most  important  mat- 
ters of  fact  recordecfin  Scripture;  amongst  which 
I  have  chosen  out  those  which  would  be  most  cnter- 
taming  to  younger  minds,  and  would  make  tlie  deep- 


fZn  SCRIPTURE  HISTORY.         Chap.  26. 

est  and  most  lasting  impression  upon  them,  and 
such  as  would  lead  them  into  a  survey  of  the  various 
and  wonderful  transactions  of  the  providence  and 
grace  of  God  among  men  ;  the  successive  and  grad- 
ual discoveries  of  the  will  of  God  to  men  ;  the 
different  forms  of  religion  in  different  ages  of  man- 
kind; the  rules  of  duty  toward  God  and  toward 
one  another;  together  with  an  account  of  their 
obedience  or  disobedience  to  him,  with  their  bless- 
ings and  their  punishments,  their  afflictions,  trials, 
and  deliverances,  and  that  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world  to  the  promulgation  of  the  Gospel  by  the 
apostles  in  the  first  age  of  the  Christian  church : 
and  this  is  as  far  as  the  history  of  the  Scripture 
reaches. 


THE   END. 


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